A
couple of winters ago my wife and I took a little excursion to a neighboring
town. We went there to visit a British shop (which was closed) and to eat in a
British pub (which was open). As we drove to and from the town we encountered
varying degrees of fog. It was a persistent fog that refused to give up and go
away.
Fog
does strange things to our world. Fog has a way of distorting the familiar. It
can hide our world in a thick blanket of damp coldness. Or it can make the
countryside appear to be the image through an improperly focused lens. Fog can
be dangerous. If it is thick enough, it can blind us to what is ahead. In winter
it can add a thin layer of slick ice to seemingly dry roads. Overall fog makes
our world dank and dreary. By obscuring the sun it robs us of both light and
warmth. It can seep into our souls; wrapping our spirit in its clammy blanket.
There
are times in life when we feel like we are living in a fog. It is not a
physical fog that we know will one day soon be banished. It is an emotional and
spiritual fog that can hang on for extended periods of time. This fog can
distort our world just like its more tangible cousin. When we live in a fog, we
can’t see things clearly, as they really are. Instead, we begin to see
distorted shapes that take on an air of foreboding. Living in a fog is
dangerous because we become blind to real dangers, while we are running from
imaginary ones. We are more likely to slip and fall emotionally, spiritually or
morally when we live in a fog. So what can we do to pierce the fog? Is there a
way out? The answer is the same for both tangible and emotional fog. To pierce
the fog we need light; the light of the sun (Son).
We can
hold onto the truth that the light is there. As we were driving the radio
people were talking about the dreary weather. One of them interjected that the
sun was still there, even if we can’t see it. If we are going to pierce the fog,
we need to hold onto the reality that the Son is always with us even when we
cannot see Him. When our world looks distorted we need to hang onto what we
know to be solid and true. “And surely
I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:20b
We can
seek the light. A real problem for many people is called seasonal affective
disorder. During the winter months, when light is at its minimum, many
people feel discouraged and lack energy because of the lack of sunlight. Some
people find relief from this disorder through the use of a special
full-spectrum lamp. This lamp simulates the light of the sun. When we are
living in an emotional/spiritual fog we can find relief by going to God’s word.
The Bible is a genuine source of the light of Christ. It is available to us at
any time. Your word is a lamp to my
feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105
When
the fog settles in, look ahead and visualize a positive future. It is not
unusual in the winter to have a very long stretch of overcast, dreary weather.
As each overcast morning dawns, it gets easier to slip into the negative idea
that we will never see the sun again. But we know that the sun will win out in
the end. The fog and clouds will not last. A day is coming when the sun will
break through and dispel the gloom. The same is true emotionally and
spiritually. Although our dark days may hang on we can look ahead to a
different reality. The day is coming when the light of Christ will break
through and allow us to see things clearly again. This will happen sometime in
our immediate future and ultimately when he comes to take us home to be with
him. He will not leave us in the fog forever. If we will reach out to him he
will pierce our fog and flood us with his light.
John
8:12
When
Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of
life."
1
Corinthians 13:12
Now
we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.
Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
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