A candle in the darkness

In 1989 the Communist regime of the Soviet Empire was rapidly collapsing everywhere but the people of Romania still suffered under its oppressive heel.

Pastor Laslo Tokes’ courageous preaching in the city of Timisoara had come to the attention of Government officials and a few days before Christmas they dispatched the police to arrest him. What they didn’t expect was the crowd of Christians from all denominations gathered around the church to protect the pastor and voice their protest.

The crowd refused to budge and when night fell, one young man lit a candle and then passed the matches and other candles along. Soon hundreds of candles lit up the darkness and the faces of those holding them.

Pastor Tokes would later say that as he looked out on this spectacle of God’s people standing in unity that “it was a turning point in my life.”

And a turning point it was.

Eventually the police broke through the crowd and arrested the pastor, but the crowd followed them to the town square and commenced another protest. The communist officials panicked and ordered in the military who opened fire on the defenceless protesters, shooting hundreds.

Inspired by the bravery of the citizens of Timisoara, the whole nation rose up as one in protest and within a few days the brutal regime of Nicolae Ceausescu was overthrown. That Christmas Eve churches flooded with people who were able to worship freely for the first time in 50 years.

It all started with a candle in the darkness.

2000 years ago, God lit a candle in the darkness when He sent Jesus into the world, and the light has never gone out.

As the old carol says, “Light and life to all He brings, risen with healing in His wings.”

This is Jesus, God’s candle in the darkness!