The Light at the End of the Tunnel

There's nothing worse than feeling like you're stuck and there is no way out. On an extreme level, I think of the Alfred Hitchcock story Final Escape.

In that story a killer goes to prison and eventually comes up with a scheme to bribe the prison mortician, whose responsibilities include carting out the corpses of dead prisoners, to help him escape. The prisoner was to climb into the coffin with the next dead prisoner and be buried alive. Later the mortician would come back to dig him out. The plan seemed to go well, but while laying in the coffin the prisoner starts to wonder why the mortician is taking so long. He strikes a match and to his horror, the dead body next to him is that of the prison mortician.

It still sends chills up and down my spine. Can you even imagine being stuck underground in a coffin knowing no one would ever come for you? Alfred Hitchcock came up with some twisted story lines, that's for sure. But this story in particular lends itself to a deep truth. Without hope, we will perish. And more people than we may think feel like they're laying in that coffin with no way out.

We've all met people who can't seem to find a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. A way out. An end to the suffering. Hope. And there is no greater despair than feeling like you're going to be stuck there for the rest of your life, alone and afraid. But that's the thing about God. He never meant for us to be alone. He never meant for us to be afraid. And He definitely never meant for us to be without hope.

He has provided a way out. For all who love Him and follow after Him... there is light at the end of the tunnel. There is a hope that is so great, it swallows up the despair and the darkness, leaving its power over you completely broken. Even if there is no way out of the current situation, He has made sure there is a bright and shining light at the end of the tunnel. Whether it's disease we're finding ourselves having to deal with, or financial problems, or relationship issues... He has the light we need to make it through. Turn to Him. Turn to the light. And the current situation will lose its hold on you.

By the way, I've re-written the end of the Alfred Hitchcock story in my head so I can sleep better. He lights the match and sees the mortician, but instead of ending there he cries out to God. He confesses the sin of his life and cries out for forgiveness. And deep beneath the earth in that old box, a light shines. He sees the power of God for the first time in his life, and he begins singing praises to God.

And those beautiful, passionate, heartfelt praises continue until he meets Him face to face.