Tim Cain, pastor at Kaleo Church in El Cajon, California, reminds us how easy it can be to fall down the slippery slope of envying those living "the good life" in the world around us. The psalmist in Psalm 73 starts off in that direction, wondering where is God when the wicked prosper and have lives of ease, while His people suffer. It's not until he enters God's sanctuary that he is reminded that the truly good life is wherever God is...and because of the gift of Jesus, God's presences is here with us today. Even in the midst of our suffering and sorrows we can truly life the good life as we wait expectantly for the glory that is to come.
We conclude our Advent series by looking at Luke 2, witnessing the beautiful passing of the torch from the Old Covenant saints to the arrival of the Messiah.
We look to Simeon and Anna, who faithfully waited into their old age for God's promises to be fulfilled. They remind us that Jesus is the Consolation of Israel, coming to bring comfort to a weary world filled with darkness, grief, and exhaustion. Jesus comes as the Light of the World, bringing clarity, warmth, and beauty into our lives. While we often fear the light because it exposes our hidden sin and shame, we are reminded that His light is not meant to condemn us but to free us.
We are called to come out of hiding and let His light frame our sorrows and heal our internal struggles. We must not be a "cul-de-sac" of God's blessing, keeping it to ourselves, but rather a "through street," acting as a chosen race and royal priesthood to proclaim the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light.
