Isaiah 60:1 NIV "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you."
What does it mean, "your light has come"? And why should we shine because of it? I suppose in order to answer these questions we need to know what "light" is. Biblically light can be many different things depending on the context. It could be: The knowledge or wisdom of God, the revelation of scripture or wisdom, the glory of God or God himself.
Here in Isaiah 60 the word "light" means God himself. Therefore Isa. 60:1 could be read "Arise, shine, for your God has come..." Arise from what? I could go into what this meant to Israel when Isaiah first spoke it, but it may mean more to you if you could see what God was raising you up out of.
In Psalm 40 David writes; "He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet upon a rock and gave me a firm place to stand" (Ps. 40:2; If you know anything about King David it's that he was constantly being bombarded by his enemies (both spiritual and physical). Being under constant attack can really test you spirit, but David always cried out to God, and waited for God to deliver him out of trouble. In the Psalms David declares, many times, the goodness of God and what he has done for him. In Psalms 38-39 David tells of how his troubles have been preceded by his sin. David has asked for forgiveness and, in Psalm 40, declares that God has lifted him out of the mess his sin has buried him in.
We all have problems with sin (they say its part of being human), maybe its lying, cheating, lust, apathy or anything else from a huge list of others. Whatever that sin is, it's not bigger than God. It's nothing that God can't take care of if you will let him. Cry out to him, ask his forgiveness and he will lift you up. Don't rely on your own strength to pull you out of sin; it's our own strength that gets us stuck in the first place. Instead rely on God's strength and grace, "My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor. 12:8). He will lift you up!
The way we can shine is by letting God, not only pick us up out of the mud but also, allowing him to remove the stench and filth of sin that sticks to us. Then he can place our feet on the Rock (Christ), and we can stand firm in righteousness. So, Arise! Shine, for your God has come!
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4
Chris
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