Betsy Hoium - November 21, 2021
Moving from Darkness to Light
As the days get shorter and many people find themselves in challenging situations, the season of Advent provides a glimmer of hope.
Scripture References: Isaiah 9:2-7, John 8:12
From Series: "The Light Shines in the Darkness"
As the season of Advent begins, we transition away from the narratives that have shaped the history of God’s people, leading us ever closer to the revelation of Emmanuel - God with Us, experienced in the person of Jesus who is to be the savior of the world. We recall the words that started this story, “in the beginning” and we find ourselves on the precipice of another beginning. The fourth Gospel is to be our guide and John starts by reaching back with us where, “in the beginning,” an invitation to a new pathway comes. Ever since God’s breath moved the waters, animated the earth, and inspired us to life, the Word was there. And now the Word moves us again. The prophets spoke of this moving Word, the animating Spirit, and the on-going Creator. Listening to Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, we are drawn away from the places we might find ourselves stuck and we’re offered a renewed promise that God loves us too much to leave us there. The darkness will not remain, and despair will lose its footing. Death is not the end and what has been missing will return in abundance. God is coming and our fear will be replaced by joy.