Introduction:

Introduction

This meditation was first posted in January 2024 to a small private group of Christians who were praying together for our democracy and for our elections. It describes a prayer which I had been praying for at least a decade prior to that time.

More recently, while watching a piece the described the Epstein scandal as the uncovering of a vast criminal enterprise, I realized this prayer is being answered. Of course, it is not my prayer alone. It is the prayer of many. I also believe it is not only "traditional" prayers that are being answered, but the cries of many hearts seeking truth and reality. May the Light continue to shine...

I have lightly edited the original meditation.

Original title: Let the Light Shine: Praying for God’s Judgment

“For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” - 2 Corinthians 4:6

“And this is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the Light; for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light, so that his deeds will not be exposed. But the one who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds will be revealed as having been performed in God.” - John 3:19-21

In American religious culture I fear the term “God’s judgment” has become tainted with our own unmerciful humanity. It pulls up pictures of fire and brimstone, of natural disasters punishing the wicked. And yet the Apostle Peter says that judgment begins in God’s household, that is with us (1 Peter 4:17). Do we wish for mercy for ourselves, while hoping for unmerciful judgment for the world? May it not be so!

Here's the thing: judgment is not about punishment. It is about justice. It is about right being done. It is about truth being revealed. God's judgment in the Biblical texts is not primarily against those who do wrong, but more importantly, it is for those who are innocent. We should not understand God's judgment as something different than what is described when we speak of someone having "sound judgment." Judgment is the ability to choose between right and wrong, between good and bad, to discern between truth and lies.

Considering our cultural and political climate, it is difficult to not feel helpless and hopeless about justice and truth.. It was during such a moment of helplessness, that I stumbled upon a powerful prayer that reveals the unity of God’s judgment with mercy and with love. I had been feeling grieved about lies that were being spread by leaders and believed by many. I was also acutely aware that I personally knew people who were believing these lies, but thought I was the one deceived. Finding that there was little I could do or say to change that perspective, I found myself praying a simple prayer:

Let Your Light Shine. Let Your Light shine in hearts. In my heart. Over all these situations. Over all statements asserted as fact. Let God’s light shine in the darkness of our time.

In the years that have followed, that has been my continual prayer: Let Your Light Shine. Political leaders lie and are believed. Let Your Light Shine. Everyday people are falsely accused and suffer terribly. Let Your Light Shine. Powerful people seem to get away with horrible crimes. Let Your Light Shine. One side says this, the other says that. Let Your Light Shine. I feel helpless because nothing I do or say seems to help. Let Your Light Shine!

God shines his light in the darkness and reveals the truth. This is one and the same with his judgment. He reveals both good and bad. So many of my worries, so much of my anxiety is answered in a simple prayer that I know to be God’s will: Let God’s Light shine in the darkness. There is nothing hidden that will not be revealed. Ask.

Readings:

John 3:1-21

Psalm 139

Luke 11:33-36 (also Matthew 6:22-23)

Questions:

• Where can the light shine? In my heart? On those who do wrong? On those who do right? On motives? On the truth about lies that have been told?
• What makes you afraid? What causes you the greatest concern? Ask God to bring his Light to those things.