Words by Adam Brewer | Image by Al Blanton
A few months ago, my family traveled to Phoenix, where the Alabama men’s basketball team played in its first ever Final Four. Because we wanted to see the Grand Canyon and some of the West’s scenery, we opted to drive from Alabama to Arizona. We planned to arrive in Phoenix by midnight on Friday, but a snowstorm delayed our progress and changed our route.
Crawling along in Flagstaff, we found ourselves with two hours left to drive, and it was already 1:00 a.m. The drive south on I-17 from Flagstaff to Phoenix was miserable. It was dungeon-like dark, we were exhausted, and the only thing I could see was a hundred feet of snow-covered pavement brightened by my headlights. I told my wife, Lindsay, “This has to be the longest, most boring road on earth.”
Lindsay tried keeping me awake by playing a Wordscapes game on her Kindle and blaring upbeat music. The hopelessness that we would never arrive at our destination made me irritable. Boredom led to accelerated fatigue. Finally, by the goodness of God, we wearily arrived in Phoenix at 3:30 a.m.
We awoke Sunday morning bummed about ‘Bama’s loss to UConn but excited about experiencing the Grand Canyon. I wasn’t thrilled about the prospects of driving back up I-17, but my expectations and perspective would soon be completely transformed.
After we hopped in the car and began our trek north, I was instantly overcome by the beauty of what I saw. We passed cacti, topped hills that unleashed breathtaking views, and saw towering mountains covered with snow. Every mile of the drive up I-17 provided memorable moments. At one point in our journey, I turned to Lindsay and said, “It’s amazing how much difference a little light can make.”
On the same weekend, the same stretch of road with the same incredible surroundings provided two vastly different experiences. Why? Because I was blinded by darkness that Friday night. My eyes couldn’t see the glory around me, and therefore, my perspective soured.
I fear many people are living out this story daily. You may not be in Arizona, but you are constantly wishing you were “anywhere but here.” Wordscapes or blaring music may not be your source of distraction, but you find life boring without the distractions of entertainment, alcohol, your kids’ athletic success, or others’ constant approval. The blinding darkness leaves you feeling alone, depressed, anxious, and fatigued with life. Like me on that road to Phoenix, all you can see is the slew of mundane tasks directly in front of you, and it’s overwhelming. Perhaps you’ve become so accustomed to the darkness that you can’t imagine an alternative.
Today, I want to encourage you with the same words I shared with Lindsay, “it’s amazing how much difference a little light can make.”
Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, has come to drive out darkness. When he touches the eyes of your soul, his light pours in. It will take time for your eyes to adjust, but you’ll begin experiencing life differently. Here are three parallels between what the sunlight did for me in Arizona and what the Son of Light can do for you:
- Light exposes beauty.
While in Phoenix, light changed our perspective from doom and gloom to beauty and glory. Our culture is saturated with complaining, slander, and boredom. Because of the darkness within us, we often fail to see the beauty of other people and the goodness of work. When Jesus’ Spirit invades the soul, the transformation causes our eyes to see and celebrate the value of fellow image-bearers instead of trampling over them with our words.
Likewise, we no longer see our work as necessary drudgery in which we just try to make it to the weekend, but instead begin to appreciate work as an opportunity for self-development and blessing others.
- Light reveals a healthy perspective of self.
As a pastor, I find that many people fall into one of these unhealthy categories: 1) thinking they are worthy of the whole world revolving around them, or 2) thinking they are worthless, and no one cares about them. Either of these extremes is unbiblical and unhealthy.
The Light reveals that we are unworthy people who are yet infinitely worthy because of what God says about us. This is both humbling and encouraging. When we realize that we don’t deserve to be the center of the universe, we quit living like narcissists. Our ego has the life squeezed out of it, and we can rightly receive God’s declaration that we are loved and prized. This keeps us from despair and self-degradation.
Unworthy yet worthy is a healthy tension we must maintain in our hearts and minds.
- Light provides hope for where we’re headed.
Every mile of that dark, snowy interstate left me fearful of falling asleep or running off the road. Likewise, the darkness in our world can leave us paralyzed by the fear of the next election cycle, the upcoming health exam, or the prospect of death. Sometimes, the darkness causes us to focus so intently on our everyday (and sometimes self-induced) dramas that we cannot imagine breathing the air of joy, peace, and contentment.
For my family, the sunlight driving back up I-17 revealed such amazing sights that it fueled our anticipation for beholding the wonders of the Grand Canyon. In a much greater manner, Gospel hope enlightens our eyes to behold goodness that fuels our anticipation for what lies ahead both here on earth and in eternity. This doesn’t mean that life will be without difficulties, but hope raises our eyes to see the glory to come, enabling us to rightly face today’s struggles.
One thing is certain: It’s amazing how much difference a little light can make.
I am praying for you and our community,
Adam Brewer
Lead Pastor, Glory Fellowship Baptist Church
