Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. -- Isaiah 60:1. Who can dispute that this is indeed good news for not only this time, but for times to come. Who is it so steeped in darkness would and could not appreciate the light coming their way. Who is it at this Yuletide season cannot use some light to brighten their darkness. Some weeks ago, because of a malfunctioning engine, the whole city was plunged in darkness -- blackout, they call it!

You never know how important the workers are at the electricity corporation until the current ceases to flow! Not only that, but how much thought is given to the makeup of these engines and their function. It's Christmas time in the city and don't tell me of various strains of "O lowly night" for we, too, know the feeling of infirmities.

Isaiah is called the Messianic Prophet because he was so thoroughly filled with the idea that Judah was to be a Messianic nation to the world -- that is, a nation through whom one day a great and wonderful blessing would come from God to all nations. The call of true prophets is to warn, pronounce, announce and proclaim. From then on the onus lies on those who are the hearers and have the choice to do or die.

God's people had returned to their city and tried to rebuild it and the temple, but something was missing. Their hopes and dreams had not been brought to reality. Despair and frustration began to set in. Isaiah arose to reassure his people and call them to national attention. God was going to act for them. The darkness of despair and defeat would cover the earth, but God would shine his glory upon them, so that the light of His glory attract the nations to Jerusalem.

The nations would bring the remainder of the exiles back to Jerusalem and also rich tribute to rebuild the city in all its glory. There was one thing the people of Zion had to accept -- the foreigners must come to worship at the temple, and God would accept them. So this event, at the same time, glorify the people of Zion and Zion would never have to shut her gates in fear. Rather, she would have to keep them open 24/7 to accommodate all the traffic bringing her gifts. Any nation which did not join in the procession to Zion would be obliterated from the earth. "We're marching to Zion, that beautiful city of God!"

God's marvelous new day of salvation would not be a passing fancy, but be eternal. All would come to pass so that Israel might know God and rest assured that He was her savior, not her silencer. The day of salvation would be marked by top-quality goods rather than make-do materials. The buildings would no longer serve defense purposes -- rather, everything would join in the praises of the savior.

Salvation would be so complete that Zion would no longer have to depend upon unpredictable natural phenomena for her weather and light. God's glorious presence would outshine the sun, so that darkness would be no more. But this would only be possible if the people themselves must be totally different. People and not things are a part of the proper order of God's universe and in order for the land to be healed and become new, there must be a confession of sins and wrongdoings. For the light to be effective, darkness must be expelled.

Why even Santa is doing a thorough check to see who is naughty and who is nice, so he would not go down the wrong chimney. This Christmas, God wants a people called Bahamians to be able to claim their promised land forever, without worry that an enemy might take it away. The Bible is the only book of instant replay. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. As was promised to our father Abraham, so is the promise to you and me.

Whatever event of healing, blessing, financial outpouring, miracles, instances of lost and found, dead situations being resuscitated and brought back to life, elimination of plagues that create social chaos, restoration of relationships, prodigal sons and daughters returning back to the family fold, widows walking the aisle once again to become Mrs. Boaz and orphans' social status being upgraded to queen.

Put fear away and aside for the good news is "Arise, shine for thy light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you." Hallelujah! o E-mail rubyanndarling@yahoo.com, write to P.O Box 19725 SS Nassau, Bahamas with your prayer requests, concerns and comments. God's Blessings!

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