Testimony of Light

"Look to God's instructions and teachings!

People who contradict his word are completely in the dark.

They will go from one place to another,

weary and hungry.

And because they are hungry, 

they will rage and curse their king and their God.  

They will look up to heaven and down at the earth, 

but wherever they look,

there will be trouble and anguish and dark despair.

They will be thrown out into the darkness."

Isaiah 8:20 NLT

Times are confusing.  People are looking for answers.  Desperate to know the truth, we turn to science, religion, philosophy, common sense; whatever sounds good and seems right.  Whatever will ease our minds and give us something to sink our teeth into.  Whatever grounds us so we won't drift into fear and worry.

There are many messages to hear, much advice to be taken, a lot of warnings to heed.  But only those based on God's Word matter.  All else is static and will send us into darkness.

Consult.  I don't inherently know what God knows.  His mind is more intelligent, intricate, broad; I can't possibly expect to rely on my instincts to be able to grasp His ways (Isaiah 55:8-9).  If I want to follow my Shepherd who has at heart both my best interest and His highest glory, I must become familiar with His Word.  If I never crack open the Bible, I can guarantee that I'll be swept away by false teachings that sound like they could be from God (Joshua 23:6-7, Deuteronomy 6:6-9).

Therefore, God's Word is vital to my walk with Christ, my journey on the path He has marked out for me, the race I am meant to run.  If I never study the holy Scriptures, I am destined to wander.  If, however, I take His Word as great treasures to be unpacked and incorporated into each day, I'll find that God uses it to transform me into the image of His Son (Hebrews 4:12, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Romans 8:29).  Without God's Word, I'm missing a big piece of what it means to authentically live in relationship with Him.

I will discover the testimony of Light when I make it a practice to consult God's Word.

Sovereignty.  I readily admit that I don't have all the answers.  I also acknowledge that man is lacking in many ways.  Yet I constantly find myself turning to worldly, human-centered sources when I'm looking for solutions or understanding.  There is something in me that is drawn to my fellow man for advice.

Yet if I truly want to know something about the world or anything in it, I'd be wise to consult the One who made it (Psalm 24:1).  In the same way that I turn to the manufacturer of my cell phone when I need to know how it functions, I must do the same with God (Isaiah 64:8).  Only He has the knowledge and the authority to point me to the truth while ordering my footsteps (Psalm 119:133).  After all, it would be absurd to ask another cell phone how to operate my device, yet I often use this same principal when it comes to life, depending on the created to shed light on the Creator's masterpiece (Isaiah 10:15).

I will discover the testimony of Light when I acknowledge the sovereignty of God that leads me to seek wisdom from Him and Him alone.

Understanding.  He has a plan.  He sees the big picture.  He has a different perspective than mine.  As a result, I'd be wise to seek Him always, in every situation no matter how big or small (Jeremiah 29:11-13, Matthew 7:7).  Instead of depending upon my own common sense or that of others, I'd be wise to find out straight from the Source how He created me to operate.

Instead, I often rely on what makes sense to me, or do what is comfortable to me, or fall back on my old standbys.  While I could trust God to provide everything I need, I end up turning to the usual resources to find help (Matthew 6:31-33).  Whereas I could wait on God to move me forward in His timing, I often grow impatient and try to make something happen on my own (Isaiah 40:31).  Although I could seek His intention for me, I frequently turn to my own instincts to lead me through life's intricate maze (Proverbs 3:5-6).

I will discover the testimony of Light when I realize that only God has understanding of His world and how I fit into it.

I can turn to many sources to find answers.  Many of these solutions sound good to me but they lead me in the wrong direction.  Therefore, if I want to walk in the Light, I must become familiar with God's Word, respect His sovereignty over all things, and live as if He were the only One who holds any understanding of His world and my intended place in it.  When I do, I'll discover the testimony of Light that will lead me out of the darkness that is all around me.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to turn to Him in every situation.

When do I only seek God when I've reached the end of my rope?

How do I have the habit of listening to reason from man while ignoring God's superior thoughts?