O Oriens (Dayspring/Dawn):

Written By Morgan Pellum

Have you ever longed for a new day to come? What is it about the rising of the sun that brings newness, freshness, and hope? There is something in the transition from darkness to light that revives, excites, and renews. But in this physical everyday experience of darkness to light, there is an even greater reality and lesson for us. This longing for a new day is rooted all the way back in Genesis 3 when sin first entered the world. With sin and death came this longing for a Rescuer, a Savior, a Redeemer, a Messiah, One who could make things new, One who would make things right, One who would bring the light of a new day. And who is this One? He is the child promised in Genesis 3 and prophesied in Isaiah: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given…” (Isaiah 9:6). We were waiting, we were expecting, we were hoping, but no one expected Him to come like He did. Jesus Christ, God incarnate, came and was born as a baby in a manger in the dirt, and though He came humbly, He came on that night long ago to shatter the darkness. “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). His earthly life ended on the cross in darkness, but once again His glorious light burst forth on the dawn of the third day when He rose again. And because of the darkness that He endured on the cross on our behalf, we find ourselves this advent season “giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Col. 1:12-14). The shadows of darkness are all around us, but the darkness will not overcome the light. It cannot. We are waiting again for a new day to dawn. But this will be the dawn to end all nights. He will come again, but it will not be lowly. His light will pierce the darkness and destroy it forever. “And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb...and there will be no night there.” (Rev. 21:23, 25). While we wait for that great day, let’s rejoice that the Light of Christ has come and remember that He will return again! What a glorious inheritance we await!  

“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” -2 Corinthians 4:6

Prayer: Lord, we need your light! When the darkness of our own hearts and the darkness around us crowd in close, remind us of the great victory you have secured by defeating darkness on the cross and bringing us into your glorious light. Shine your light in our hearts this day as we eagerly await the day when you will return to bring us into your light forever. Amen.

Isa 9:2, Luke 1:78, Mal 4:2