Lightish

Thursday, July 24, 2008
I am not a fan of the darkness. To say I’m afraid of the dark is a stretch that I’m not comfortable making given that I may not know you the reader. But darkness provides far too many opportunities for stubbed toes and other sorts of danger. Thus, I avoid it.

I’m torn, however, because Light, the alternative, isn’t exactly 100% safe either. Have you ever burned yourself on a lamp? Those suckers get hot: hot enough even to back a cupcake. Or how about that time you heard a noise and turned on the light to find yourself face to face with a mouse? No, that wasn’t you. Anyways, light can burn and scar, and scarier yet, reveal truth that we’d rather have hidden in the dark.

In our previous house we had a light in the basement that was notorious for burning out bulbs. This socket could kill a bulb in a matter of seconds: often with the first flick of the switch. The annoying thing was that this light was situated in the darkest corner of the basement. The place needing the light the most could not get any. For all the work I had to do in that corner of the basement I wish I could have gotten some light.

Jesus says some pretty important stuff about light in John chapter 9. As Jesus and his disciples were traveling along they come across a man born blind. His disciples turn to Jesus and ask, “Who sinned, this man or his parents?” Jesus disciples had an understanding that people born with issues such as blindness or crippled limbs were that way because of sin: either their or their parents. In other words, they believe that if you sinned your kids could be born blind.

This was not true.

This issue needed some light shined on it.

Jesus responds then by saying: “Neither, this guy isn’t blind because someone sinned. He’s blind so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.”

Do you think it suddenly got brighter in everyone’s life?

Then Jesus goes on to say: “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

He’s the light revealing what’s lying in the darkness, debunking myths, correcting false teaching and showing us the way.

But, if Jesus is gone does that mean the world is in darkness?

Fortunately God doesn’t work that way. Jesus said to his followers in Matthew five: “You are the Light of the world.” God’s plan is that his followers are to be the light. Again, being light is part of our makeup and wiring. We are salty torches.

So, what are we going to do with our light?

Lights can grow dim if not maintained. Batteries die, oil levels run low and if fuel is not supplied the light will die out. Christians who aren’t refueling are going to stop shining.

And lights can be hidden by shades so as to not become uncomfortable to those around. Does God want us to simply be mood lighting setting a nice atmosphere?

And only one light creates shadows while two or three or more, well-positioned lights illuminate the entire space. If all your lights are pointing at the same subject only that one subject will be seen and everything else will be in the dark.

And most importantly, light travels. Darkness is not a wall hemming light in. The light of a single candle can be seen miles away. How far away can our light be seen?

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