These past recent weeks were the kind of weeks that make you ask: Is there light at the end of this tunnel? Global peace is fragile as missiles crisscross the skies of the Middle East. Violence on the innocent has no limits as a predator-pervert tried to kidnap a preteen at a bus stop in broad daylight. Only her quick-thinking and green slim playdough averted certain tragedy. And our national energy security is far from being secure as computer hackers were able cripple a major U.S. crude oil pipeline. We had to pay a ransom to avoid more energy hijackings that threaten to make high pump prices and long gasoline lines a part of our future.
Consider the story of the mule who had to deal with his own “tunnel” experience. There once was a farmer who had a mule. The mule was old. One day, that mule fell into a deep, dry well. As much as the farmer tried, he could not get the mule out. So, he decided to bury the mule and fill in the hole since the well was dry and the mule was old and thought to be pass his prime. The farmer enlisted the help of his neighbors who came with shovels. They began throwing dirt in the hole. The mule began to bray. Then it got quiet. The farmer looked in the well. There he saw something historic, heroic. With every shovel of dirt that landed on that mule's back, he shook it off and stepped on it. He shook it off it and stepped on it. He continued the action until he stepped right out of the hole into the bright light of day.
If we are to emerge from our present hole, to emerge into the bright sunshine of hope of a better new normal, we need to know who is in the hole with us. John knew. In his gospel prologue, John 1:14, he wrote:
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14
The Word was Christ. He lived, tabernacled, walked the mean streets with us, traveled our tunnel. God in the flesh was in the hole with us. What we experience, He experiences. John described him as the light of men (Jn 1:4). His “glory” is our light at the end of the tunnel. What is in that light?
Grace is in the light. It is the unmerited favor of God. We are given what we don’t deserve to climb out of the hole we are in–sin and death—and all that comes from being fallen creatures in a fallen creation. God is for us because He lived with us. When we are at our weakest, God’s powerful grace shines the brightest according to II Corinthians 12:9:
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
Truth is in the light. Truth is the revelation or Word of God seen fully in the Son of God. His true character is love. His true motive is forgiveness. His true mission on earth in the flesh, living in the hole with us is redemption. No matter how much dirt is dumped on us, each adversity is an opportunity to step up, to trust the Word, so that we can step out of our hole like the mule. Christ lived with us to die for us, so we can see the light of a new normal, a better normal. His truth is our freedom from the tyranny of darkness of our long tunnel according to John 8:32.
"And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Peace need not be fragile, but part of a new normal. Violence on the innocent needs not be an ever-present fear for us and our children. Security need not be a temporary state of affairs. True security rests in Christ. No weapon formed against us shall prosper.
Accept the “Light.” You won’t be disappointed in the end.
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