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Topic: light (05/24/04)
TITLE: Lighthouses Just Shine By David Ritchie 05/29/04 |
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Ever since the first glimmer of dawn dispelled the darkness on an awakening universe there has been a battle between light and darkness. From the moment when God said, "Let there be light, and there was light," (Gen 1 v 3) it was his mind that people would live in the light. Even during the night God made provision so that there would not be complete darkness for "God made two great lights--the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night.” (Gen 1 v 16)
Of course there are different shades of light, on one eclipse of the sun there was a warning not to look at it directly as it would damage your eyes. On the other hand an everyday example is that on a bright summers day the level of daylight is so high that you would never detect a cars sidelights left on. However in the middle of winter even at noonday cars sidelights would be highly visible to the naked eye.
In the Old Testament we read, "So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and total darkness covered all Egypt for three days. No one could see anyone else or leave his place for three days. Yet all the Israelites had light in the places where they lived." (Exodus 10 v 22 / 23) It has always been God's mind for his people to dwell in the light. Jesus referred to himself saying, "I am the light of the world." (John 8 v 12)
While we see all this in the natural world there is an even greater battle between light and darkness in the spiritual realm. Colossians 1 v 13 states, “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.” The bible holds many references to the powers of darkness and the evil forces that dwell there.
Sometimes in this present age people make reference to Christians as 'having seen the light'. In one sense this is correct, as Jesus is the light of the world. For some people their spiritual journey starts with an instantaneous revelation of Jesus Christ the light of the world. For others the light steadily grows brighter until there is a full revelation of Jesus and the light he gives.
Mathew 5 v 14 puts a new slant on it all when Jesus says, “You are the light of the world." Here we see transference of power and light as we shine as ambassadors for Christ in this present age. Unfortunately we are all the world has to reflect the Glory of God and the light of his gospel. What a responsibility, if we don’t shine people remain in darkness.
Someone once said, “lighthouses don’t sound horns, they just shine.”