January 19, 2025 – Sanctity of Human Life Text: John 1:1-14
Dear Friends in Christ,
In the beginning it was dark. Life begins in darkness. Let’s face the darkness firsthand.
Picture yourself on the other side of the bathroom door, locked and lying on the floor. You are crumpled among cartons, paper wrappers and pregnancy sticks with plus signs. Assaulted at the party and impregnated unwillingly, now throat knotted, eyes hot, gut twisting, fingers clenching. Reputation at risk, freedom and future in danger, success and sanity at stake. Baby daddy bullies you, father bawls you out, mom turns her back on you. Abandoned, ashamed, afraid, and what now?
The shadow of death and darkness settled over the valley. It is black like Hagar the handmaid having Abraham’s illegitimate issue, like Bathsheba bearing a baby not belonging to her husband. It gets black like Lot’s daughters when they liquored up and lay with the old man. It goes black like Mary knowing not a man and subject to public disrepute. Darkness has a name, and it is sin, iniquity, evil. It goes by privacy, choice, rights, or just abortion. But working darkness on the outside doesn’t remedy the darkness on the inside.
A better rescue remains. There is an answer for the darkness. The deep shadow has not arrived alone. Light always attends. It’s fit for power made perfect in weakness, fit for heavenly involvement. Son of God, came near, at hand and at work, made like his brothers in every respect. As a servant, obedient unto death. With grace and forgiveness from the outside, Jesus enters, driving away the dark by the everlasting light of Lord God Almighty. The Christ has died blameless to absolve your guilt, and He’s returned from the dead so that your conscience and spirit have release. There’s nowhere that darkness doesn’t touch, but there’s nowhere that the Lord doesn’t accompany. For those who perceive it . . .
“LIFE SHINES IN THE DARKNESS”
Behold the blessings, even on the other side of the bathroom door. Ultrasound pulse and sonogram smile, first word and first step, hugs and kisses. You anticipate birthday wishes and bedtime stories, tea parties and water fight. You are at the threshold of wiping gameday sweat and drying homework tears, learning to drive and late-night talks. You’re appointed for graduation caps and wedding gowns, “thank you mom and dad”, and belonging. Life shines in the darkness.
Picture yourself on the other side of the bedroom door. Shoulders slumping, head hung low. Buried under collection letters and divorce papers. Screams go silent, tears run dry, the empty bottles mock you. You are brought to your knees, and you can’t hold a distinct thought to pray. Ready to make the haters pay, you gaze at the blade like a misty graveyard. Desperate to take the pain away, you eyeball the bullet. Who would listen? Who would miss you?
Darkness settles over the land from the sixth hour until the ninth hour, then stretching into three days. It burdens like Paul, afflicted and imprisoned, appealing, “Take away the thorns!” It feels burdensome like Jesus, starved in the desert, sweating blood, pleading, “Take away this cup!” Some call it escape or ending it all. But wielding to the darkness on the outside won’t relieve the darkness on the inside. It doesn’t secure anything.
We have an antidote to the darkness. Eternal Word made flesh, present and powerful, subject to weakness, sharing in the flesh and blood the same as children. With compassion and mercy from above, Jesus engages, casting out the darkness by heavenly light of life. This Christ has died innocent as atonement for sin, and He’s risen again so that your body and being have relief. Life shines in the darkness. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He comes to give life. See the gifts even behind the bedroom door. Second chance and next chapter. Improved relationships. Purpose for life.
Picture yourself on the other side of the backroom door. Drifting between consciousness and confusion. Hooked to ventilator and catheter, hemmed in by bed rails and monitor beeps. Layered with drugs, abdominal nausea, aching everywhere. Spoon fed and sponge-bathed. Who’d live like this? Why not speed the process?
It blemishes like Job, bereft of everything dear and beset with disease. It blights all like Cain, or Naaman, or Bartimaeus, even like Jesus Himself disrobed and disfigured. The darkness has a name; end-of-life options, medical aid in dying, death with dignity. But wreaking darkness outside can’t heal the darkness inside. It doesn’t sustain anyhow.
Because a truer redemption remains. Here comes an authority over the darkness. The pitch black cannot occupy all by itself. Light inevitably unseats it. The Lamb of God sacrificing and arising, fits us for holy incarnation. Almighty Immanuel gave self. Carrying sickness and bearing sorrows. Your Christ has died righteous in exchange for your soul, and He’s resurrected so that very soon you will be rejoicing. Life shines in the darkness.
Witness the privileges even beyond the back door. Singing and praying. Distractions cast aside. Expressing yourself and advancing toward a family reunion. Life shines in the darkness.
Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness. Instead, expose them. We are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God. We proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. They will see His face, His name on their foreheads. Night is no more, no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever. Life shines in the darkness. Amen.