Your Light Has Come

Jewish exiles had just recently returned home. Jerusalem and its walls lay in ruins, the temple had been destroyed, much of the population had scattered and those that remained were impoverished. But God sent them a prophet—Isaiah.

Imagine the encouragement that washed over them, when God spoke these words to them through Isaiah. Sometimes, in times of deep darkness, God brings encouragement in remarkable ways, offering courage to the heart.

I heard a remarkable story in the nation of Albania in the early 1990’s. It was once a land familiar with the gospel of Jesus—as Paul states in Romans 15:19, “So from Jerusalem all the way to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.”—Illyricum is modern-day Albania. But after centuries it became a land marked by strife and occupation: 400 years under the Ottoman Empire, dictators and communism. Christianity—and, in fact, all religion—was outlawed.

Well, times changed and with an official invitation, a group of missionaries and organizations were welcomed to visit the capital city of Tirana and present the gospel in the national soccer stadium. I was privileged to be part of that group, as the country had been closed off from the West for decades. We’d been told that there weren’t any known Christians from those troubled times. 

The evening of the stadium event, I looked around at the crowd that had assembled, and to my right a family were weeping, holding one another listening intently. With the help of a translator, I asked the father if he understood the message that was being shared. He acknowledged that he did, saying, “We’ve been waiting for this moment for many years.”

I was curious—had Jesus penetrated even here? He shared his most remarkable story:  As a young boy living under dictatorship and communism, when all religious buildings had been destroyed or repurposed, there had been a demolished church on the edge of his mountain town. One summer night, he and a few of his friends snuck down near the forbidden structure and threw rocks into the gaping hole in the wall. They knew the consequences if they were caught. But boys take risks.

Suddenly a rock struck a long-forgotten bell that had once hung atop. The ringing echoed down the valley and in the darkness; they were terrified of being discovered and ran frantically in different directions. This man—now standing before me with tears—was one of those boys.

“I ran a few steps, but something stopped me. I turned back to look, and standing in the hollow of that broken-down church were three men—glowing bright white. The one in the center wore a golden sash across his chest, and he said, “Don’t be afraid, God loves you. Believe in God; believe in His Son. In time you will understand completely.”

It was a shocking vision for a young boy to see and hear. Something he didn’t understand, but off he ran again, glancing back after a few steps—only to find that the three shining men had vanished. Had I imagined it? he wondered. But he knew he hadn’t. He ran home under different stars that night.

When he told his friends the next day, they laughed him into silence. None of them would dare admit they had been near that forbidden place, for fear of punishment from the secret police. For nearly 50 years he kept this story to himself, sharing only with his wife and children. 

Jesus does not leave people in darkness without a light

The day before the stadium event, he was in the capital and saw a banner that we had hung on a building that read, “God loves Albania.” When he read those words, deep emotion surged within him, causing him to remember the night he saw the three glowing men. He ran home, gathered his family, and convinced his friends to come to the stadium that evening. And there they sat in the grandstand, listening to a clear presentation of Jesus Christ—and entering a relationship with God. 

“Now we understand,” he said. His heart had embraced the message he’d heard as a boy, and now he heard it fully.

Jesus does not leave people in darkness without a light. When He has no representative to send, He goes Himself. That is the heart of the gospel.

Perhaps you feel like you’re in darkness right now. Perhaps God will send you a prophet, like Isaiah. Perhaps a message will come accompanied by angels. Or perhaps encouragement will come from an unexpected source—just enough courage to step forward in faith today.

Arise, shine, for your light has come.

Prophetic Prayer & Communion
Sunday, December 14th
NEW TIME! 5-7pm at Northstar Loveland

School of Kingdom Ministry Meeting
Sunday, December 7th
1-2pm at Northstar Loveland