Shine On

Recently I was sitting reading through a passage of scripture as my husband was scurrying around to find his phone. He was anxious to get to the pier to take a picture of the beautiful sunrise. I was in the middle of my devotions so I refrained from going. As he urged me to go I said, “there will be another one tomorrow.” When I looked up I could see out the window the picture that God was painting right before my eyes, I was reminded of one of the Hebrew names for God that reminds us he is the one true creator. He is Elohim, God all-powerful creator. El signifies the strong God as he brought all the world out of nothing. He created the light, the Son is the Light, and we are to reflect His light and shine on for Him.

On day one God created light. He separated it from the darkness. With light, we can see the things the darkness hides. Darkness is used all throughout scripture to symbolize Satan. It is the absence of light. Satan is the ruler of darkness in Ephesians 6:12. This verse reminds us we are in a battle against this prince of darkness. In scripture, sin is always represented by blackness or darkness. Yet, Jesus is the light.

John 8:12 “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

Ephesians 6:12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

As I watched the dark blue-gray sky change, it reminded me of how we should change when we become a Christian. Before salvation, we are living in darkness. We could not serve Christ because the darkness surrounded us. John 1:19-20 reminds us,  before salvation we loved darkness rather than light because in the darkness we can hide our sinful acts, but come daybreak the light will expose them.

John 3:19-20 “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved” 

As I continued to watch the day break through, I noticed as it changed from darkness to light it first went through the color spectrum. In the very middle, with the brightest light below, and the darkness of the night diminishing, the color was hot pink, almost red. I thought about our own lives. When we go from the darkness of sin, to the bright light of Jesus, there is a color in between that ushers in the bright Light. It’s the crimson red of the blood of Jesus. We must have that crimson blood to cover our darkness and allow the bright white light to shine through.

I John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

Once we are in the Light, we are to shine the Light. We are to be like the light that shines on a hill. Jesus said that we are not to hide our light. Sometimes at night, I look out across the lake and there is total darkness. But, in the distance, I can see a light across the lake on a hill. It’s the only thing I can see on a cloudy night. Light always seems brightest when it is in total blackness. It’s easy to find and there is no mistake about what it is. That is how we should shine. There should be no mistake about who we represent.

We should be like the solar light. It must have its source penetrating it for several hours for it to shine where and when needed. We need to plug into God and his word to gain strength, but then we need to go out to where there are lost people. Where the darkness keeps people from seeing the truth. We need to make sure we are fully charged so we can shine our brightest. When fully charged we need to make sure we are ready to combat the darkness. Reveal the truth, and like a lighthouse, rescue the perishing. If we charge up, but always stay with all the other lights, the real value of our light will be diminished greatly.

Matthew 5:14-15 “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.”

As the verse in Matthew 5:14-15 reminds us, we are not to hide our light. A hidden light is of no value to anyone. If we are saved it is our responsibility to shine brightly for Jesus. He is not here walking on this earth as he did in Bible times. Therefore, most people will not see Him unless they see him in us. So, get charged up, find those living in darkness, and start shining! Become so attractive with the way you treat people, and show concern for them, that you will be like the porch light in the summer. When it goes on all the bugs in the area flock to it!

What kind of light are you? Are you dim, blending in with all the other lights, or are you out there shinning showing love so all the sinners will be attracted to you?