Have you ever had a very, very long night? If you were ever stranded at a closed airport on a freezing winter's night, then you know a longest night. If you ever spent the hours of darkness in agonizing pain and you longed for the dawn's early light, then you know a longest night. If your children didn't come home at the appointed hour and you anxiously watched the driveway through the curtains as dawn was breaking, then you know a longest night. If you were taking on a new job appointment on the morrow, your anticipation mixed with anxiety might rob you of your sleep -- once again, a longest night.   If you were to meet your long-awaited sweetheart at the airport the next day, then the hours of the night were not only sleepless from excitement but also from anticipation -- a longest night indeed.

 

December 21 is the date of the "winter solstice"--the shortest day followed by the longest night here in the Northern hemisphere. We call it "mid-winter" in the south (June 21), but here the counterpart might be known as the first day of winter. From now on the days will grow and the nights will shrink. Some cold days probably lie ahead--we know that as we observe the sometimes weak, wintry sun beginning to wax and grow stronger daily. It begins to win the race heading toward the longest day. Never forget --"There's a great day coming by and by".

 

There were some really long nights in scripture. Primordial darkness hovered over the face of the deep in the creation until God brought order out of chaos, Genesis 1:2. That was probably the longest night this world had ever known.  As heaven's clock "struck twelve"in ancient Egypt in Moses' day, death entered every home among the Egyptians and their first-born felt death's cold chilling hand upon their shoulder, Exodus 11:4. It was a longest night of  eerie silence. No dog barked during those ebony hours, but the plaintiff wailing of bereavement shattered the silence in the morning. Judges 19 tells of a helpless woman who was physically abused all night by a gang of heartless thugs. As day broke, they left her on her master's doorstep--they had robbed her of her dignity and her life. That must have been the longest night for the desperate victim who ultimately found release in death. 

 

The hours in Gethsemane for Jesus must have been the longest night of his physical existence as the Son of Man, Matthew 26:31,38-45. Jesus was desperate for the support of his disciples, but overwhelming weariness stole their loyalty for their Lord. So he wrestled in prayer--alone. Jesus had respected the coming night--he said, "I must do the works of Him that sent me while it is day, for the NIGHT cometh when no man can work," John 9:4. As the crucifixion proceeded, a three-hour darkness descended on the land, Matthew 27:45. How dramatic that darkness must have been  as it was punctuated with tombs opening up and the dead coming forth, Matthew 27:52-53. Those events would have rendered those hours a longest night indeed! "When will this darkness end? Will life ever be the same again? Are more bizarre things in the offing for us? Will we survive this unscheduled night of darkness?"  

 

When you have a longest night for whatever reason, may I suggest that you look to the SON--Malachi 4:2 says "But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in his wings." As the familiar hymn says, "He will carry you through!" Dark moments are inevitable. Don't stay there. Long nights mean short days. "Days" are when we can work. Don't stand idle in the market place-- be about the Father's business. Today is the Lord's Day, Revelation 1:10--make sure you use it for Him. The other six days are yours to use as you will, but this one is His. Work for Him in the light. Obey his will so that you might avoid the long, dark eternal night of perdition. Such a fate--eternal darkness--is too horrible to contemplate! It would be the longest night of all time ever! And, the most frightening. It never ends. It is not followed by day! Don't go there.

 

Men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil. Don't be partakers with them. "Walk in the light as he is in  the light."

 

Love you all in the day and in the night,

 

Al--"The Horne of Africa"

 

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