"Christ, Open Our Eyes!"
Nov. 17, 2018
In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.
~ 2 Corinthians 4:4-5 (ESV)
"The light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ" is the illumination we need for the deepest darkness: death. "We want to live," the radio on a plane over Switzerland broadcasts, and all men, unless they are so close to Jesus that they can exult with St. Paul, "to die is gain," all men cling to life and are terrorized by its end. A morbid, menacing fear of the grave has seized some of you. Let the radiance of your risen Redeemer banish all gloom from your hearts when in His light you see heaven as your home, and the cemetery as the place of only temporary repose for your remains! On the great day of your Lord's return, your body will be gloriously recreated, perfect and heavenly, resurrected for eternity. Lying on his deathbed, Handel, world-renowned musical composer, his eyes opened to Jesus' promise, could cry out after having chapter 15 of 1 Corinthians read to him twice: "I am certain of my faith. I am assured of my salvation." His last words pleaded: "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit! Oh, let me die and rise with Thee!" Blessed Savior, open our eyes in our last moments that we may behold Thee in Thy love and see heaven ready to receive us by Thy mercy!
Christ is the eternal, never-ending, never-failing Light. You may lose everything else; your husband or your wife may leave you; your parents or your children may be snatched from you, but the Son of God's promise rings out in unbroken truth: "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Once when Michael Faraday, brilliant and believing scientist, spoke to the Royal Society in England, he produced a candle taken from a ship sunk 60 years before. During all this time the candle had been at the bottom of the ocean, subject to heavy pressure and the action of salt water; yet when Faraday put a match to its wick, it flamed brightly. So if your trust in the Savior has long been buried beneath the weight of worry and self-righteousness, His love can still brighten your sin-darkened life. You may fail, but Christ, the Light, can never fail. Even if six decades ago your faith was shipwrecked, and you lost your reliance on Jesus, it is never too late to return to the Lord of light for grace and guidance. Now, today, leave the black midnight of evil for the radiance of your Redeemer!
THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, lead us to that place where we see Jesus as our only hope and the reason for the life we live. In His Name we pray. Amen.
From "Christ, Open Our Eyes!" a sermon excerpt from Walter Maier, the first Speaker of The Lutheran Hour. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
"The light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ" is the illumination we need for the deepest darkness.
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