Looking through the Darkness to the Light
“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:17-18
In the third book of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, the main characters, Frodo and Sam, are running away from the Orcs and end up in the land of the shadow. They are walking for days in the pitch-black darkness, fearful for their lives, and carrying the burden of the ring, which is making Frodo more and more grouchy with every step.
I’m sure you have been with a friend that is in a bad mood, and it makes it that much harder for your mood to remain light. Well Sam, who is Frodo’s best friend is doing exactly that. He’s trying to keep up good spirits, but even Sam becomes heavy and affected by the darkness when all of a sudden, he sees a light.
“There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tower high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach.” –The Return of the King, Tolkien
Just the glimpse of light reminded Sam that there was something greater than his momentary pain. Similarly, Paul reminds the Corinthians in his letter that beyond the hardships they might be facing at the time, there is an eternal glory waiting for them with Jesus.
Jesus already conquered the darkness - sin. Do you remember that daily, or do you let trials and pain overshadow the joy and goodness that God has promised? With Jesus we can look past the miseries or pain of the world, and find hope in Him, our light.
Let us remember to look for the light today, past the shadow, for something greater has already overcome the darkness.