Living in the Light of Epiphany
It’s 2026! The New Year. A lot has changed for Shanna and I this past year as we have been preparing for service in Africa. I bet if you look back on the year 2025 you may have experienced much change also. The media reminds us about the “big” stories of the past year that has forced change in people’s lives. Some that top my list were the return of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency, major disasters like devastating wildfires in Los Angeles and catastrophic floods in Texas, ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Yemen, and significant technological advancements in AI and biotech. Political shifts involved new tariffs, immigration crackdowns, and global power struggles, and the first American Pope. Death, chaos and destruction seem to rule the day. If you made it through 2025, congrats!
A few many years ago Karl Lutze wrote a collection of soliloquies, or things you may say to yourself out loud called “…a lot on my mind, Lord” One soliloquy is entitled “Still Alive – No Surprise.”
Lutze writes,
Another day – I should be surprised, but I’m not. Every morning there are some who never did survive the night – accident, violence, heart attacks, or ‘natural causes’ – for many, last night was the last night. But I am here – alive!
And even though, when I was small, I learned to pray ‘If I should die before I wake,’ I’ve found myself quite used to death not coming and I’m not surprised at all at waking up alive. Each night as I prepare to sleep I have every expectation that tomorrow, too, I’ll be among the living – that’s what has happened every morning of my life so far.
Lutze continues,
I’m not asking, Lord that you would cause me to be gloomily awaiting my last hour; instead, I pray that I may highly prize each day you give, each day you let me live, as precious hours entrusted to my care; I want to use them well (p. 9).
Welcome to the New Year! Welcome to the season of Epiphany! It is my prayer that the Lord will put in my heart the desire to highly prize each day the Lord gives and may He also cause you to highly prize each day He gives to this year. Live it in the light of Christ who gifts you life in both the temporal and eternal realms. For us sinners, God gifts us with the water of life through Jesus Christ and apart from Him, we are in darkness. Knowing Him brings enlightenment and joy. Live in that joy and light this Epiphany season!
“For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light do we see light (Psalm 36:9).
