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?

Light of the World

"The true light that gives light to everyone 

was coming into the world.  

He was in the world,

and though the world was made through him,

the world did not recognize him.

He came to that which was his own,

but his own did not receive him.

Yet to all who did receive him

to those who believed in his name,

he gave the right to become children of God--

children born not of natural descent,

nor of human decision

or a husband's will,

but born of God."

John 1:9-13

The Light of the world dared to come down into the world He created, among the men whose hearts He knew only too well (John 2:24-25).  Yet He came, the Light who deserved to always reign at the right hand of His Father, gave this up for a time in order to step down into darkness (Philippians 2:5-11).

Why?  Why would the King of all kings do such a thing (1 Timothy 6:15)?  Out of love (Romans 5:8).  To reconcile sinful man to holy God.  To bring restoration to mankind.  To perfectly demonstrate His great love for us.

Let us worship such a God as this, who dared to come down into the world He created, knowing full well the treatment He would receive from the men whose hearts He knew only too well.  What love. . . won't you join me in worshiping such a God as this?

Light and Glory

"Simeon was there.

He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying,

'Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace,

as you have promised.

I have seen your salvation,

which you have prepared for all people.

He is a light to reveal God to the nations,

and he is the glory of your people Israel!'"

Luke 2:28-32 NLT

Jesus.  He came to save.  Some expected a glorious king who would rescue them from the oppression of the Romans, but God had something else in mind.  

Jesus came to make a way for all peoples to come to God.  Jesus came to earth as a man so that God's own people could know their Lord's true nature through faith and be delivered into a radical kind of covenant based on grace.

Jesus.  So much more than just a babe in a manger.

Do you know Him?

Light

"God said,

'Let there be light.'

And there was light!

God saw that the light was good,

so God separated the light from the darkness."

Genesis 1:3-4 NET

I opened my eyes but nothing happened.  The inky blackness behind my closed eyelids matched the darkness found in my tent pitched deep in the forest.  I waited, giving my young eyes a chance to adjust.  Still, not a bit of darkness could be detected.  As I lay in my sleeping bag, unable to discern my surroundings, the night seemed to press in around me, giving me a feeling of claustrophobia.   I lay there in a wide-eyed state of alertness until finally, my fatigue overcame my sense of anxiety and I fell into a state of slumber.

The next time I opened my eyes on that memorable trip of my youth to the back-country of Yellowstone park, however, everything was different.  Light flooded the tent and what felt like a tomb a few hours before, now was my peaceful home away from home:  The introduction of light had changed everything.

In the beginning, God made the light and called it "good." (Genesis 1:4)  Darkness always existed, but once the light came, everything changed.  (v 2)  God's creation of light provides many reminders of the Truth as I negotiate my walk with Christ.

Separated

The shirt draped over a chair becomes an intruder hunched in the corner.  A painting of a smiling woman is transformed into a grimacing fiend.  The friendly figurine of a frolicking feline looks more like a menacing monster.  Darkness has a way of hiding the goodness and providing fertile ground for an active imagination.

In a similar way, the darkness of this world and my sinful nature both have a way of twisting what is good into something evil.  Marriage is morphed from the bedrock of our society where children are nurtured and men and women find meaning in their God-given roles to a meaningless institution devoid of purposeful underpinning.

In the hands of this darkness, God is removed as the Giver of the standard for living and in His place man's corrupt conscience serves as the establisher of the benchmark.  It is also apparent that the once thriving, hospitable, loving home where education and commerce of all kinds took place is now simply a haven from the world and a place to find refuge from others.

When God separated the light from the darkness, He set in place a reminder of my calling to set myself aside for His use.  Instead of merging into the ways of the world that are so comfortable to my sinful nature, I hold God's ways as more valuable.  In this way I will exist in the world as salt and light without risk of looking just like unbelievers who have no hope. (Matthew 5:13-16, Matthew 6:31-32)

Just as light is divided from darkness, so is God's purpose far different from the world's.

Jesus

No matter what time of year you may visit Yuma, Arizona, you will probably find a sunny day.  It is known as the sunniest city in the U.S. with an average of 328 days of sun per year.  For those who prefer cheery, sunlit days, this is the place to dwell.  To find 100% chance of walking in the light, however, I need look no further than Jesus!  You see, wherever Jesus is, I will find light because He is the Light of the world.  (John 8:12)

Following the Holy Spirit, then, is the one sure way to walk in the Light, for He would never lead me into darkness.  (Galatians 5:16-18)  When I am tempted to follow my natural inclinations and let my selfish desires lead the way, I find myself looking out for myself, promoting my plans, and meeting my needs.  When I let God's Spirit guide me, however, I will discover a new-found selflessness as I desire to help others, glorify God by supporting His plan, and looking for ways to meet the needs of those around me.

As a follower of Christ, I am not bound to the darkness of my sin nature, but neither am I a resident of this world.  When I stick by His side, I will find the God-offending thinking so common in this day and age to be as foreign to my mind. (Romans 12:2)  It will also become clear that His love will flow freely from me as I am transformed from a judgmental, harsh critic to a merciful dispenser of grace.  In the Light, the homeless beggar becomes someone's father or brother who needs a kind touch instead of a pitiful excuse of a man who has given up on life.  The Light has a way of altering my perspective to line up more with His rather than the world's.

Just as light is at odds from darkness, so will following Jesus place me on a narrow path that drastically differs from the wide, well-traveled path of the world.  

Unquenchable

No matter how many times he blew, the birthday boy could not extinguish the candle.  His mother had carefully hidden the trick candle in the center of the cluster of 8 flaming symbols of his age, knowing how much her son loved practical jokes.  Finally, they dipped the still-flaming candle into some water to douse the fire so they could cut the cake.

While these trick birthday candles can be a fun edition to any party, it can also remind us of Jesus.  His Light is unable to be extinguished by anything found in all of creation.  No matter how dark the world seems, it is never so bad that it will overcome the Light.  (John 1:5)

Applying this truth to my life, I will discover that there is no hurt that cannot be healed by the touch of Jesus.  No matter how hopeless a situation seems, it is not so difficult that a touch of His cloak will not overcome it.  (Luke 8:44)

There are times when it seems evil is winning, but the Truth tells me that the One who resides in my heart is greater than the Evil One who prowls the earth looking for someone to devour.  (1 John 4:4, 1 Peter 5:8)  I can also remember when I feel like my sin is always winning out that Jesus has finished His redemptive work on the cross that provides me an endless supply of forgiveness and the power to overcome.  (1 John 1:7-9, Galatians 5:24-25)

Just as light cannot be extinguished by darkness, so is the Light of Jesus unable to be quenched by evil.

When God made light, He called it good and opened up a precedence for living in relation to Him.  I am to live fully in His Light, separate from the ways of the world and my sinful nature.  I also am called to walk beside Jesus as He leads me through the darkness, knowing that His Light cannot be extinguished.  These are the lessons of the light I can take with me throughout my life.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can remember the significance of light.

When am I drawn to the darkness like a moth to the flame?

How am I living a defeated life instead of remembering the victory I have in Jesus?