"COME TO THE LIGHT"
Julie Howell stood gazing up at the sky in Belle Starr’s RV Park near Texanna, Oklahoma. It was a muggy and cloudy summer night making the night seem darker. Being such a hot and humid night there were no fires burning in the campgrounds and RV park. Julie’s heart felt as dark as the night.
However, Julie saw a light in a camper across the road which was getting brighter and brighter. “That’s what I need” Julie mumbled to herself spurred by the thoughts she had heard all her life about Jesus being the light.
Most of Julie’s 33 years had been consumed with darkness. As a young teenager, Julie was sexually abused by an uncle who lived next door. It was an evil secret which she had kept hidden. Exacerbating her darkness was Julie’s living in fear her alcoholic father’s anger would result in the death of her mother. Julie’s darkness was riveted with pain, fear and betrayal. Julie decided to run away from home.
Running away to St. Louis, Julie began a destructive lifestyle without any regard for her health. Smoking, drinking, drugs, sex, all night partying and it was now a way of life. Like her father, she was looking for the light in the bottom of a bottle.
Nineteen years of age, Julie married her first husband thinking matrimony would light up her life but it proved to be more disappointment and darkness. Night after night Julie waited for her husband to come home from a night of drinking, doing drugs or being with other women.
Upon suffering the pain of a divorce, Julie was convinced there was no light to be found. Julie then decided she would create her own light by marrying her second husband who was a man of great wealth even though she didn’t love him. Using her husband’s wealth, Julie was immensely satisfied materially but still craving warmth and meaningful love, she began an affair with a young store clerk where she shopped.
Less than three months lapsed and her second husband caught her in her affair, the second marriage was dissolved.
Standing in the campground, Julie realized she had the sole responsibility to take care of her young daughter and herself. The responsibility increased the darkness which now engulfed every part of her body and being. Julie screamed out loud to herself, “How can I fix my mistakes? Where is the light I need?”
Suddenly, the moon shone through on that hot and humid night. Just as the moon rays broke through the clouds, the bright light in the camper went dark. When Julie looked back up at the sky, the moon was shining brighter and now the sky was illuminated with millions of stars. At that very moment, God revealed to Julie her search was over. His radiant and brilliant light was shining on Julie finally removing all of her darkness.
Julie dropped to her knees weeping while asking God to forgive all of her sins and accepting God’s saving light of the Holy Spirit in her heart.
In less than the blink of an eye, Julie’s darkness was gone and she felt joy she never had experienced before. Julie thanked God for saving her and revealing His love through the light of His creation.
Twenty five years have passed with twenty four years of marriage, three children and five grandchildren. Julie makes it a point each night to look up at the star lit skies and praise God for His unfailing love.
Shortly after the three wise men saw the Star of Bethlehem or also known as the Christmas Star (Matthew 2:2), the Heavenly Father’s plan of salvation was set in motion. A plan of salvation free of rituals, free of sacrifices and free of laws. A plan of salvation which consists of unlimited forgiveness, mercy and grace. A plan of salvation which gives the believer victory over death. A plan of salvation which began with a lighted star shining brighter and brighter. (Matthew 4:16)
Like Julie, some of us have a past history which would force a freight train to take a dirt road. Yep, many of us have past histories to make the all star sinner’s team. Like Julie, we were engulfed in darkness. Some of us actually liked the darkness and the sins it offers. Getting drunk, getting high, adultery and debauchery to the max plus thousands of other sins can not only keep you lost in the dark but can literally kill you.
If you are a Christian, you can relate to the shining light erasing every inch of darkness in your heart and soul. Like Julie, you know God will forgive you of your past no matter how much it is riddled with scandalous and scurrilous behavior.
Father God thank You for Your plan of salvation. Thank You for Your unlimited mercy grace and forgiveness. Remind us one of our responsibilities as Christians is to help others “come to the light”. As Christians, we have been there, done that when it comes to the darkness and its land mines. As Christians, we know the way out of darkness has only one solution which is the light of Jesus. Let us sing “I Saw the Light” while you guide us to help anyone lost in the dark. (John 8:12)