The Eternal Word
John 1:1-5 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” (NKJV) (Some other versions say that “the darkness has not overcome it.”)
Prologue
John 1 1-5 “At the beginning God expressed himself. That personal expression, that word, was with God, and was God, and he existed with God from the beginning. All creation took place through him, and none took place without him. In him appeared life and this life was the light of mankind. The light still shines in the darkness and the darkness has never put it out.” (J. B. Phillips)
We are heading into a new year, and many of us are fearful. 2024 hit many people very hard. In the American southeast, hurricanes ravaged many states, devastating areas that are still in the process of being rebuilt. Farmers lost crops and livestock. In northern Ghana, farmers struggled with droughts that hardened the ground to such an extent that when they went to harvest groundnuts, they had to dig the plants out of the ground, rather than pulling them up as they normally did. Without digging, the groundnuts (peanuts) would have remained in the ground. Then later in the summer, we were hit with catastrophic floods that wiped out farms close to rivers and streams. Places that had never flooded in recent memory were inundated, washing away people’s hopes along with the crops. As these disasters were shaping up, the local currency was losing its value and prices of everything soared. This year, many people did not have meat at Christmas, despite long-standing traditions.
As I write this, one poor family has three children with healing burns in our hospital. While the parents were at farm, one little boy played with matches. Blessedly, the burns will heal without grafts but this is a devastating blow for this family, who were already scrambling to feed themselves. There are likely many other similar stories of suffering this winter.
Why are these verses from the Gospel of John so vitally important for us? What comfort can we find in them?
- Before time and space were conceived, God existed. The longer astronomers study the universe, the more mind-boggling the age of the universe becomes; yet, God was there in the beginning.
- God was the One who spoke the universe into existence and before whom darkness had to flee. Someone once asked “What is the speed of darkness?” Simple. The speed of darkness is the speed of light, for darkness and light cannot coexist. When the light comes, darkness must go.
- God is omniscient (all-knowing), omnipotent (all-powerful), and omnipresent (always present.) Nothing is hidden from God, for He knows everything and He knows our problems and our needs.
- God’s light continues to shine in the darkness and the darkness cannot possibly overcome it.
- God’s Son Jesus is the light of the world.
- God has sustained us through 2024 to reach 2025. As God has already helped us, so God will continue to do so, for that is His Nature. We can trust the Lord of the Universe, whose genius has created stars and planets and galaxies, as well as every cell in our bodies.
- God exists beyond time and space. As we enter this new year, let us enter in faith, realizing that God is already there and already preparing the way for us.
- Remember what the angels told the shepherds when Jesus was born: “Fear not!”
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to follow Your leading into this New Year, trusting that You will never leave us or forsake us. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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