Psalm 97 - Light Show!

Best Light show around!
      In college I had a friend who did the light shows for all of the drama department shows. He could do some amazing things with just lights. Then you go to professional concerts and see the cool things they do with their light shows. And sadly enough, I’ve lived in Minnesota long enough now to comfortably use the Vikings as an example. In the Vikings new stadium, when they scored the first official touchdown in the new place, they turned off all the lights and had purple and yellow LED’s flashing on the roof. It was quite impressive and I was only watching it on TV.
      Light shows can fascinate us. However, the coolest light shows are still those of the universe. From shooting stars, to the northern lights, to lightning storms, our universe has some pretty epic light shows itself. Have you ever seen one of those really bad storms in the middle of the night? One where the lightning is so constant and so bright, it seems like it is day light out even in the pitch black of the storm. Living in the woods of the northland, I can tell you it is dark at night. Even when there is moon light, the trees block so much of it, it is still pitch black out on a clear night. On a cloudy night, good luck seeing your hand in front of your face. (Truthfully I love this part of my property). So image how dark it can be with thick, black thunderheads rolling in overhead. And yet, somehow the amount of lightning strikes can make you think it is high noon in a western movie where the sun is so bright you can see the single bead of sweat rolling down their cheeks of the two cowboys squinting their eyes at each other. While this can be terrifying because those storms normally come with winds and damage, it is impressive none the less to see that kind of “light show” right in front of you.
       Now listen to verse 4 of Psalm 97. This psalm is so interesting because it is describing the reign of God and it is terrifying and awe-inspiring all at once. Verse 4 in particular, talks about the lightnings of God lighting up the world. And you know, it is brighter and more impressive than even the fiercest storm anyone has ever witnessed in this world. That intense storm you thought of during the previous paragraph doesn’t even begin to compare to how bright the world is as non-stop lightning strikes go out from the presence of God to bring His light into the darkness of this world. The very next line even says, the earth sees and trembles. It’s the feeling of being so scared you couldn’t possibly look if you wanted to, and yet being so intrigued you can’t take your eyes off of it.
      Even though we haven’t seen this amazing light show of the lightnings of God lighting up the whole world, we have seen the most impressive light show God has to offer. Instead of lightning bolts, this terrifying and awe-inspiring light show consisted of a baby born in the manger with a star shining bright above. It consisted of a bloody man being hoisted high up on a hill for all to see even as the sky grew black. It consisted of a sunrise revealing folded clothes in a tomb. The light show of the world that should make us so scared we couldn’t look even if we wanted to and yet at the same time so intrigued we can’t take our eyes off of it, isn’t a storm or lightning or a star or the sun, but rather the Son as he was born in the flesh only to be killed on the cross. It is the Son as He stood alive outside His own tomb and as He ascended into Heaven. This light of the world as He calls Himself, truly is the reign of God. And it is just as terrifying and awe-inspiring as anything we could ever experience. It is terrifying because the wrath of God for our sin was so serious it covered the light of the world in darkness. It caused the Father to be so angry He couldn’t even look at the light of the world as He hung on the cross darkened by our sin. And yet it is so awe-inspiring because it is the forgiveness of those sins and He is the light that the darkness could not overcome. He is the light of the world as He reveals God’s love and salvation to all of creation. He is the reign of God as He sits on His throne, living and active, in control of all darkness. He is the most impressive light show we will ever see as His life, death, and resurrection is what allows us to see our eternal life right in front of us.
       So lightning is still awesome. I hope to still see more northern lights living up here. However, the greatest light show that terrifies me and yet I hope I never take my eyes off of is Jesus Christ, the light of the world and the very reign of God that the earth sees and trembles. Rejoice in the Lord, and give thanks to His holy name! Amen.