A New Heavenly Light

I pulled apart the curtains and flipped open the blinds. The light from morning sun quickly invaded the space that I was standing and it felt as if my face were being bathed in the warm sunlight. As refreshing as it was to have the light that broke the night come barreling through, my eyes quickly clinched shut, in efforts to protect them from the sudden change. This morning light, the light that was new for the day, was beautiful, yet painful.

Paul tells us that we use to live among “them”- those in the darkness. (Ephesians 2) All of us in Christ have a “before Christ” portion to our timelines; a portion of our lives that was lived in spiritual darkness. As we bask in God’s glorious light, we can look back and remember that moment when the curtain was suddenly torn in two, allowing the light to shine in for the very first time. Its’ beautiful, refreshing, rays swarmed all around, and although beautiful, refreshing and suddenly longed for, it was accompanied by pain. Just as when our eyes see the morning light for the first time that day, there is a brief pain that is felt as we adjust to seeing new light.

The light suddenly reveals all the dark places in our lives and we are finally able to see ourselves as we really are. Although, our brokenness was laid bare before us, a new hope also emerged upon this new horizon, this new day. This is where the timelines for those of us in Christ began to change. It’s a change in our timelines that can now be seen only because there is a new light shining. It is a change that can be seen because of the veil that was torn the day Christ Jesus offered Himself up on our behalf for the sins of the world.

As I stand to pull apart those curtains, flip open the blinds, and feel the sudden burst of sunlight on my face each morning, I will close my eyes in worship as I remember the veil that was torn as the great atonement was made for me and my sin. As I feel the sting of pain in my eyes as the morning light meets them for the very first time each day, I will remember the moment my timeline changed and I felt the sting of brokenness that was quickly accompanied by a bundle of love, forgiveness, and joy, and therefore hope!

As this truth embeds itself deeply into my heart, mind, and soul I will gladly sing:

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace

Oh soul are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior
And life more abundant and free

Oh, turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace”