A Light that Shines in a Dark Place
by Terry Wane Benton
Peter tells us that the prophetic word (our Old Testament scriptures) is now “more sure” since Jesus has fulfilled all that was predicted about the Messiah. Unbelieving Jews are made to doubt their own scriptures since they never got the Messiah their scriptures predicted (in their failure to connect the dots to Jesus).
They handle the same scriptures and fail to see Jesus as the messiah, while Christians handle the same scriptures and see Jesus everywhere prophesied, foreshadowed, and typified. We hold the Tanakh (Old Testament) as “more sure” than ever, since it clearly speaks of Jesus (II Peter 1:16-21). Each prophecy is a glimmer of light in this dark world. Peter says you would “do well to heed” these precious prophecies “as a light that shines in a dark place.”
Maybe you are in a dark place in your life. If you are wandering aimlessly in life with no real vision of your purpose and direction, you are in the dark. If you are feeling depressed and gloomy, you are emotionally in a dark place in your life. You would do well to heed the prophetic word and get a clearer perspective of Jesus.
Jesus is “the light of the world.” To know Jesus is to know light on your meaning and purpose. To heed the glimmers of light that each prophecy of the Messiah gives to your mind, your understanding, the better you can see the path you need to take in life, the better equipped you are to handle the day yoked to Christ as your familiar friend and companion of your heart. Remember that Jesus said if you yoke to Him and learn from Him, your burden will be light. The prophet's word is like stars guiding you through the dark places and bringing you to “the morning star” (Jesus), who rises within your heart and brings you out of that dark phase.
Stars carry you through dark moments, but Jesus is the true light that lights every dark soul with knowledge, truth, facts about life beyond death, hope, purpose, meaning, and direction. If you are in a dark place in life, you would do well to heed the old scriptures and let them lead you to the dawning of a much better day in union with the Light of the world.
