Winter Solstice & Christ’s Return

From now on, it’s getting lighter.

Last night was the longest of the year, with 10.23pm being the point furthest away from light. Yesterday, London enjoyed only 7 hours 49 minutes and 41 seconds of daylight. In our northlands, we had even less, and that’s not counting the additional darkness caused by the rain clouds impeding the distant sun’s glow.

The reason for this shortest day and darkest night is the Earth’s tilting on its axis; the arc the Sun moves through during the day rises and falls across the year as the Earth’s poles point either towards or away from the Sun. At this time, the Earth's North Pole is pointing away from the Sun. Our star’s influence is therefore limited, and coldness and darkness prevail.

The good news, though, is that the days will now lengthen. We will notice nothing tonight. Nor tomorrow. In fact, we shall complain of the long nights and dark days for a few more months. Furthermore, the temperatures will actually get colder despite the sun’s increased influence. Heat stored in the ground takes time to seep out; the effects of those warm autumnal days are still felt at the time of this solstice. In January and February, however, such stores are well depleted, and the Earth cools accordingly. In other words, it might get brighter but the temperature only gets cooler. 

Isaiah 9:2 says ‘The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.'

Christ’s advent brought light to the world. We know more of the Triune God as a result of the Saviour’s coming than any wise prophet knew before. There are more printed copies of God’s word than any other time in history and even little congregations like ours have a global reach on account of our website. And yet earth’s spiritual temperature continues to fall. In Britain, it’s not far off freezing; in many countries, it’s well into minus figures. Just as lighter but colder days are a sign of spring’s return, so is the mixture of gospel light and spiritual ice heralding Christ’s second coming and the ushering in of the glorious summer of His Kingdom on earth.

And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. Rev. 22:12

Image by Foundry Co from Pixabay