Spring 1978
A Light That Shineth in a Dark Place
Bob and Elizabeth Lake
Pinecrest Graduates

Like many who have an understanding of God’s purposes, the prophet Habakkuk found himself in a dark and difficult situation that seemed even to contradict the promise of God. In deep distress, he framed his three famous questions: “Why? Wherefore? How long?” Receiving no answer but the silence of God, Habakkuk resolved to wait upon the Lord. “I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what He will say unto me. . .” (Habakkuk 2:1). Although the Lord never answered the prophets’ questions concerning the immediate circumstances, He used the pressure and frustration of a “dark place” to draw Habakkuk into a revelation of Himself. Habakkuk gained an eternal vision of far greater dimension than his limited questioning had demanded. God often deals in this manner with those hearts who are set for His highest and best.

The scriptures mention Joseph of Arimathea only four times; yet that which is recorded speaks volumes to us. Significantly, all four gospels remember him as the man who begged the crucified body of Jesus from Pilate, prepared it for burial, and laid it in his own tomb (Matthew 27:57-60; Mark 15:42-46; Luke 23:50-53; John 19:38-42). But Mark and Luke add this fact: Joseph of Arimathea “. . . also himself waited for the kingdom of God.” He was willing to lay the Son of the Living God in a tomb and seal it with a stone, while waiting for the kingdom of God. How like our vision of God; for if our vision is truly a work of the Spirit, we will be able to “let go” of it while trusting Him to bring it to fruition in our lives. Like Joseph, we can trust in the Lord, knowing that He “doeth all things well,” and that “the Lord is not slack concerning His promise.” Even when circumstances seemingly negate the faithfulness of God, we can sing with Habakkuk, “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vine; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls; Yet will I rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation” (Habakkuk 3:17, 18). This faith that God is developing in us is one of an eternal quality that will trust God even when the hope of our vision has been sealed in the tomb. This is the faith the early apostles possessed. They could preach, “Little children, it is the last hour,” because their vision of the kingdom was unlimited and eternal. They saw past two thousand years and “tasted of the powers of the age to come.” They were anchored by a steadfast vision of the glorified Christ.

Jesus, speaking of His imminent transfiguration in the mount before Peter, James, and John, said that “there be some standing here which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:17). The consummation of this experience to which He referred was a Voice from heaven that thundered from the overshadowing cloud, saying “This is my beloved Son; hear him” (Luke 9:35). The kingdom of God which Jesus had said they would see was His own manifestation in Glory. Peter referred to this timeless vision of the glorified Lord when he wrote, “And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:18, 19).

The Light of the Person of Jesus Christ, the Eternal Word Himself, shines in a “dark place.” And as the Lord spoke to Habakkuk, “Though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come.” Habakkuk 2:3