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Previous Challenge Entry
Topic: light (05/24/04)
TITLE: Artificial Lighting?
By Karie Hobson
05/31/04
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Light, I don’t often give much thought to it. If it is dark, I just flip a switch. However, after a recent visit to the optometrist’s office, I thought much more about it. During the exam, the doctor took an extremely bright light and shined it into my eye. It was so bright that my eye started tearing up immediately. It was uncomfortable, yet necessary. I have had a problem lately with eye strain. He confirmed I will need to wear glasses for reading and close work. As he finished his exam, my doctor explained to me that natural light is better for my eyes.

I thought about the natural light. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the light.” He is the natural Light. When I am compromising with sin, His light is too exposing. Even if I close my eyes, I am aware that the light is still right in front of me. I want to pretend that I don’t see clearly, but His light leaves no shadows. Sometimes it is painful to have the light of the Scriptures speak directly to a problem in my life. I can choose to close my eyes, and keep walking blindly in my sin, but I will keep bumping into things that will cause me to have to open my eyes. I can turn my back on the Light and walk in my own shadow, but I will still see the shining around me. He is much bigger than my little self; I could never completely block Him out. His light is like the light at the doctor’s office, it causes tears and discomfort, but it is necessary. I can then see a little clearer when it is over.
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I thought about walking in the light. He desires me in His light, but some times I pull out my puny little flashlight and wave away His spotlight. There are times when I do lean on my own understanding. It usually starts out with a small problem that I can fix myself (no reason to bother God with this one). I think “this is a quick fix”. The main difficulty with my thinking this is the lighting problem. My little light is limited. I am restricted by the scope of my light. Without God shining His light on the whole picture, the view is distorted. I am learning to expose everything to the light of God’s Word and my vision is better. I have found I trip less when He is leading.

I thought about natural versus artificial light. I think this is the dilemma of our age; distinguishing between the Light and man-made light. We live in a world of fake lights. The differences are less apparent than light and dark. Simulated light, like a hologram, looks convincing. It has no real substance, but you can’t tell at first glance. There are many religions that look convincing, but they too are having trouble seeing God in His true light. His light needs to shine through my life in such a way as to touch the lost. It has to be a natural light, to be seen without complications. I would hate for anyone to get eye strain looking for God because my “light” was artificial. It needs to be bright enough to make a difference. I would hate to have someone stumble because God’s light wasn’t able to shine through me effectively.

God told us to walk as children of Light (Eph. 5:8), and He told us that He has granted us everything pertaining to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). So, let’s start walking in the light, and letting the light shine through us.