Lightish

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?

odd signs

Okay, I do not have perfect grammar. I know this. You will not need to leave comments pointing out my deficiencies as if I don’t already know them. I know.

However, Sheena and I were staying at a place in Tofino this spring and were surprised / relieved to find the following sign posted on the fridge:

In my mind, the following picture emerged:

I’m sure this is not what the author of the note had in mind.

I certainly don't want to see any pets smoking candles either.

Just thought I'd share a bit of my thoughts with you. I hope that we'll all think about the notes we are leaving for our house guests.

Salty

Sorry, but this is not about a singing song book.

I’ve been studying a few metaphors lately from Matthew 5. In Matthew chapter 5 Jesus tells His disciples: “You are the salt of the earth.” Have you heard this expression before? This “salt of the earth” saying floats around. You might say, “Oh, that Martin, he’s so swell. He’s just the salt of the earth.”

But what does that mean?

It’s a weird thing to be called salt. I’m sure this isn’t a reference to our tendency to become salty when we sweat.

For years I’ve assumed this is strictly talking about value. Salt, for the ancient world is valuable. Today, for a couple bucks I can go to the store and get a box of it. In times past it was currency: it held that much value. I don’t think I can walk into Chevron and plop a bag of salt on the counter as payment for my fuel. It doesn’t work that way today.

It also could be that someone is like salt if they have many uses: or perform many duties. Salt can be used for all sorts of things, from preserving meat to cleaning, to softening water. On the website for Windsor salt company they list about 20 different uses for salt besides using it as a seasoning.

So when you liken someone to salt you can be talking about their value and worth and usefulness.

But there is another property of salt, and that is found in the everlasting nature of pure salt. Pure salt never goes bad. Pure salt lasts forever. What if this is what Jesus meant? What if Jesus was saying “You are to last. You will never perish.”

In Second Chronicles chapter 13 verse five, the King of Judah reminds the Israelites that God made a covenant of salt with David setting David’s line as kings forever over the people of God.

Pure salt lasts. Salt doesn’t stop being salty. In the same way we are to continue living as disciples and witnesses. True disciples last.

But there is impure salt. Fake salt you might even call it.

Impure salt looses its saltiness. Impure salt does not last.

So what kind of salt are we? Are we living as pure salt with a witness that will last forever, or as impure salt that is essentially useless?

Will we abstain from the things that make us impure?

Think about this the next time you use salt in one of its twenty plus uses.