Have we somehow lost our way? Have we lost touch with the One who is the very reason and the plumb line of our existence? Viewing the current political situation, I sometimes think so.

But then, I remind myself, that Jesus was born into a political maelstrom. He lived his life in a world of political dealings and atrocities, and He died due to political and religious forces of the day. Politics can be dangerous…as well as evil. With those thoughts in mind, I ponder the politics of our current situation, and I remind myself that nothing…not government…not evil…not hell itself, was able to stop that first Easter.

Several years ago I led an Easter service/celebration at the Skilled Nursing Center where I worked as a chaplain. As a life-long Baptist, I’ve been to, and even led, some pretty incredible Easter services, but this one was unique. It was the first time I led an Easter service in such a facility, and I was curious as to how it would be received by the elderly population from various faith backgrounds. It ended up being one of the most sacred services I’ve ever been part of…not because of me or my leadership, but because of the pure joy that the residents experienced upon worshiping on that Easter Sunday. They broke into applause when they heard the beginning strands of, “Christ the Lord is Risen Today,” and another wonderful hymn, “How Great Thou Art.” No pretense. No concern over appearances or anything else. Pure exuberance over the resurrection of the living Christ. Pure joy in worship!

Which makes me wonder, have we begun to take Easter for granted? Or, perhaps, we forget the eternal implications brought by that particular Sunday morning.

Isn’t it amazing, how light overcomes darkness…always? If you take a candle into a dark room, it’s as though the darkness flees before the light. Darkness never snuffs out light. Light always wins! I suppose the root of the victory of light over darkness traces all the way back to creation, when God spoke, “Let there be light.” And whenever darkness attempts to return, Christ responds, “I am the light of the world.”

In the present darkness of our nation and world, I must remember this abiding truth, and find comfort – and not only comfort, but a reason for existence. We must remind ourselves that Light came into the world, and the darkness cannot and will not, overcome …Him.