The Longest Day

Nº 359

June 17, 2025

Why are not our hearts continually set on heaven? Why dwell we not there in constant contemplation?… Bend thy soul to study eternity, busy thyself about the life to come, habituate thyself to such contemplations, and let not those thoughts be seldom and cursory, but bathe thyself in heaven’s delights. - Richard Baxter

This week, those of us in the northern hemisphere will encounter the longest day of the year. Our friends in the southern hemisphere will experience their shortest. In reality, we all have the same amount of time; what changes is the daylight hours we enjoy.

Until the advent of electricity, sunshine provided all the light people had except for a few candles, lamps, and firesides. Even today, daylight offers most of the warmth and light needed to work, play, and navigate life.

For believers, the longest day is still ahead. John describes the celestial scene within the New Jerusalem. “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is the lamp. And the nations will walk by its light.” (Revelation 21:23-24a)

As we await that eternal brilliance, we live in a world of darkness and light. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12) He also said, “You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:14) As we await that longest of all days, we are called to replicate Jesus by shining His light to those around us and pushing back the darkness.

Excelsior,

Dan Bolin

Author & President