In his letter to the church of Thyatira, Jesus gives that church and the church today one of the most encouraging promises you’ll ever receive. To the church that, by grace, repents and holds on, Jesus promises “the morning star.”
One of my favorite professors at Regent College was Darrell Johnson. He taught me that the morning star is the star that “appears at the darkest time of the night… It usually emerges at that point when the night is as dark as it’s going to get. When it appears, there is no sign of the dawn. But when it appears, very faint and small at first, you know that the night cannot withstand the dawn; it is just a matter of time until the dawn wipes the night away.”
Even when things are the darkest, Jesus assures me He is with me – and not only with me, but also ruling over all things and caring for me until the last bit of darkness in my life has dissolved forever.
I said that in a sermon at Trinity CRC a couple weeks ago. And people said “Amen!” I’m glad they were encouraged too.
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4th Point 
Well isn’t that a coincidence! We always liked listening to Darrel Johnson when we listened to him when we visited Union Church in Manila.
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So you knew (of) Darrell Johnson when he was serving as a pastor in the Philippines! I’m sure he was a good preacher. The courses I have taken with him have all been meaningful and helpful for me. Thanks, Dan, for leaving that comment! ~Stanley
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