Keepers of the Light

 

    

    

    

    

    

Isa 9:2

 

2 The people who walked in darkness

Have seen a great light;

Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,

Upon them a light has shined.

NKJV

 

Darkness.  It is the pervasive theme in our society.  It is found in movies, literature, toys and TV shows.  Our culture is obsessed with darkness.  Dark forces; dark, twisted serial killers; garbled voices and shadowy spirits, it is the bread and butter of our entertainment industry. 

 

This passage of Scripture refers to a people walking in darkness.  Is there a generation that this is more true of than our own? But thank the Lord, the story does not end in foreboding darkness, but  rather we see the darkness as a backdrop to showcase the brilliant Light that has come.

 

When Jesus was born, the Father chose to herald His birth with a star, a new light source, hanging in the heavens for all to see. Jesus  was the light that was so desperately needed in His day, and He continues to be the origin of all light today.  Without Him, our life is cloaked in  darkness.

 

This time of year, I so enjoy watching the Christmas lights twinkling on the trees, on the houses, and businesses in town.  People drive quite a distance to look at a beautiful display of lights.  We are intrigued by the luminosity and we gain hope from it.

 

No matter how dark your life has been, Jesus is  shining His light into your darkness.  Drugs?  Alcohol? Promiscuity?  Witchcraft?  None is so dark that He cannot penetrate it and shed His glorious light into the situation.  Even if you are "dwelling in the land of the shadow of death" the light shines brightly above you, beckoning you to draw near and allow Him to push back your darkness.

 

Jesus, indeed, is the Light of the World.  But we, as believers, are the body of Christ.  We are still on Earth and there is still a lot of shining to do.  The pervasive darkness is stifling, but we cannot allow it to snuff out our light.  We have to abstain from darkness in all that we do in order to preserve the pure light of His presence.  A Christian cannot engage in role playing games of darkness; evil videos games; demonic movies and pornography of any sort.  What fellowship does light have with darkness?  We  cannot compromise our heart, our testimony, our spirit or our world.  He is light, and we must be keepers of the light.

 
Dear Lord, you see the darkness that has fallen on the Earth. Help me to shield my heart from any dark influence.  Saturate me, Lord, with the light of your presence.  Reflect Your brilliance in me.  In Name.  Amen.

 

 

 

Piercing the Darkness with the Sun

    

 

 For the Lord  God is a sun and shield;

 The Lord  will give grace and glory;

 No good thing will He withhold

 From those who walk uprightly. Ps 84:11 (NKJV)

 

There are so many wonderful descriptive words used to refer to our glorious God.  Today's verses have a couple of lesser used terms -a sun and a shield.   I look forward to the new heavens and new earth where Jesus will be our sun as described in Rev. 21:22-23:  

 

22 But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it,* for the   glory* of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. (NKJV)

What a marvelous light!  There have been a lot of rainy days over the last few weeks.  Many people in our area agreed that it had been the most uninterrupted rainy days in most people's remembrance.  Many of us commented that day after day of gloomy, stormy weather, where there was no visible sunlight, resulted in gloominess and depression of mood.  We just thrive more when we are exposed to the sun of His Glory.  Thankfully, there is no darkness that He cannot conquer.  No oppressive blackness that he cannot illuminate with the brilliance of His majesty.

 

It also says that He is our shield- Thank God!  He covers us from the fiery darts of our enemy.  He raises a standard to drive back assaults from the evil one.  He provides both our light and our protection.  And yet, that is still only a small glimmer of one facet of His vast greatness.

 

I am devoid of anything gracious or glorious in my natural personality.  If it were not for the redeeming grace of God, I cannot fathom what my life would be like.  I have not yet arrived to all that I hope to attain in Him.  I will continue to journey towards His perfection as long as I live.  But I am encouraged and heartened to know that he will keep giving grace and glory to me.  I do not deserve glory, and yet He chooses to use me to display His glory against the lackluster backdrop of my frail humanity. 

 

I am so grateful to know that he will not withhold anything good from us who walk uprightly before Him.  There have been days that I have struggled with seeing the good He is brining my way.  At times, I am ashamed to admit, I have wondered if He no longer desired to bless me.  But according to this verse, it is just no so!  If it is good for us, pleasing, in His will, and a blessing, He will not deny us from having it.  Results delayed do not necessarily mean  results denied.

 

Do you need Him to pierce the darkness?  Do you need protection from the enemy of your soul?  Are you in need of a greater measure of His grace and glory?  Are there some "good things" you are trusting God for?  Look up!  He is Your Source.  Call on Him.  He will answer.

 

 

Blinded by the Night

 

“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin.  But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense- Jesus Christ, the righteous One.  He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but for the sins of the whole world.  We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.  The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him:  Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning.  The old command is the message you have heard.  Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.  Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble.  But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded him.” I John 2:1-11

I remember one night the power went out, on a cloudy night so dark I could not even see the glow of the moon or stars.  Everything was pitch black.  I remember thinking this must be what it feels like to be totally blind.  I stumbled around in the dark house, running into the rocking chair, stepping on a matchbox car and other toys.  The power had gone out before the pre-bed tidy up.  I was in danger of breaking my neck! Things that would have no power to harm me in the light of day, now had the capacity put me on the floor.

Darkness changes your perspective.  After we sit in darkness for a while, our eyes adjust to it and it no longer seems as dark.  If this is happening in the spirit, beware!  You are in danger.  We cannot afford to have the darkness blind us.  We cannot afford to lose our perspective and ability to see the things that can level us. 

I have had the opportunity over the years to talk to people who have become spiritually blind.  Talking to these people is like talking to a post!  They cannot hear you or a word of rebuke or admonishment.  They are so convinced that what they want and what they are doing is right, until they are unteachable; and therefore, unreachable.  Have you ever tried to reach someone who is addicted to substances (or other selfish behaviors) and the whole time you are talking with them, you sense they are conning you?  It is so difficult to help someone who will not be straight up with you or with themselves.  Spiritually blind people cannot see the consequences of their choices; they cannot see beyond the momentary pleasure that they perceive.  Or, as in the verse today, they are so blinded by hatred that they have lost their direction and ability to walk upright.

Choosing to endanger yourself, is a foolish choice.  Can I share a perverse desire of mine?  When we are experiencing a hurricane and the weather people are standing outside in 70 m.p.h. winds in their yellow rain slickers talking about the weather, there is something I want to see so bad I can taste it.  I want to see a garbage can lid come by and conk them on the head!  I told you it was perverse, but stupidity gets on my last nerve.  If you want to put yourself in danger, then you get what you deserve.  Those weathercasters can barely stand upright, they are pointing to automobiles moving under the tornado-force winds, and yet they stand out in it continuing to endanger themselves and the cameramen. Surely you have had similar thoughts…(?)

In the spirit we also do dumb things.  We hold a grudge, we refuse to forgive, we go after things that we know removes us from the ways of God.  We are playing with fire and too stubborn to admit it.  We are acting just as foolhardy as a person playing chicken with a train.

Dear Lord, show me where I am foolishly holding on to things that blind me to your truth.  Help me to forgive, no matter what people have done to me.  Help me to resist darkness, in favor of light.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Sherri

Light Loving

 

“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin.  But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense- Jesus Christ, the righteous One.  He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but for the sins of the whole world.  We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.  The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him:  Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning.  The old command is the message you have heard.  Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.  Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble.” I John 2:1-10

“I would love ministry (social work) more if I did not have to deal with people.”  This is a joke that I have heard many people say, with their own adaptions.   The irony being that without people with needs there is no ministry or social work.  But dealing with people is messy business!  People with needs can be angry, rude, hostile and downright aggravating.  The world is full of evil and disrespect which challenges our best intentions and patience.

But can we be brutally honest here?  Non-Christians are not the only aggravating people.  Christians can be just as (if not more) mean and hard to deal with as sinners.  Why is that?  People are just people.  We all have our own set of idiosyncrasies, pet peeves, weaknesses and obnoxious ways.  Our carnal, or natural, disposition leans towards selfishness and unloving traits.

But how can we not love our brother for whom Jesus died, and still love Jesus?  We cannot.  If we love, it keeps us out of darkness and in his light.  As we grumble, criticize and gossip about our brother or sister, we begin a descent onto a dark path.  But as we love and cover over the weaknesses of others, it keeps us in the light. 

Walking in the darkness is a challenge and a hazard.  Living in the country, I am always concerned that I might step on a snake in the darkness.  I am afraid there may be holes, or toys left in the yard that will cause me to twist my ankle and fall.  We can guard against spiritual potholes and snakes by simply remaining in the light in thought and in conversation.

Our words indicate the condition of our heart.  If we are speaking loving words, that is indicative of a heart full of love and light.  If we speak unmercifully, we open our heart and lives to darkness.  That type of darkness does not make the aggravating person stumble.  It causes us to stumble!  It is a foolish thing to turn out the light on ourselves…

Dear Lord, help me walk in love toward my brothers and sisters in Christ.  Help me to remember I am as guilty and unlovely as any of them.  Thank you for your mercy that covers me and help me to walk in mercy toward others.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Sherri

The Night Light

 

 

 

“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin.  But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense- Jesus Christ, the righteous One.  He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but for the sins of the whole world.  We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.  The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him:  Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning.  The old command is the message you have heard.  Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.” I John 2:1-8

 

Once, as a nineteen-year-old newlywed, I came home to a dark house.  The power was off everywhere in our town.  My husband did not get home until 11:30 p.m. and it was a little before eleven.  I told myself I could be a big girl and went inside.  The darkness was so pervasive though, I began to feel creeped out by it. There were no streetlights.  No little lights on the coffee pot.  Nothing!  The darkness felt like a presence.  It was as if someone was lurking in the shadows.  After finding a flashlight I got up the nerve to flee next door to my in-laws house. I let myself in and everything was just as dark there.  I began to yell out and call their names, but no one ever answered.  By then I had myself convinced a serial killer had killed all of them and was pressing in to grab me as well.  I jumped back in my car and locked the doors (like people on scary movies never think to do) and raced back into town.  It was the dark ages then (before cell phones) so I hurried to a pay phone and called my mother.  I stayed on the phone with her until all the spookiness faded.  (The next day my in-laws had a good laugh at my expense, but thankfully they were all alive and well.)

Darkness is frightening.  It is overpowering and it limits you.  Thank God the light has come!  His name is Jesus and he can shine his light into the furthest reaches of our soul.  He illuminates sin as well as truth.  So many people are wandering in darkness.  We have to be willing to let our light so shine, that people can find Jesus in the middle of their darkest hour.  In the dark you can run into things, stump your toe, trip and fall.  There are so many hazards in the darkness.  Things that will not harm you at all in daylight can cause major damage at night.

Begin to crave the light.  Avoid the darkness of this world.  Pray to be a light in your family and in your community.  The true light is shining!  Let us step into the light!

Dear Lord, thank you for driving away the darkness of my soul.  Help others to see you shining in me.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Sherri

 

Black Out

 

 

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched- this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.  The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim what we have seen and heard, so that you may have fellowship with us.  And our fellowship is with the Father and with his son, Jesus Christ.  We write this to make our joy complete.  This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light and in him is no darkness at all.  If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.  I John 1:1-5

 

Ouch.  Today’s verse is a very sobering verse.  If we name the name of Christ- say we are a Christian, we have got to be a Christian.  100%.  If we play with sin, compromise with the world, we are then liars.  This is the Bible-not my words.

Now understand that elsewhere in Scripture it is obvious that we all fail in many ways and when we do, Jesus advocates to the Father on our behalf. We will never know this side of heaven how much mercy God extended to us in our day in/day out shortcomings and failures.  I believe what this verse is talking about is what we call a hypocrite- the person who says one thing but does another.  This is the person sitting on a church pew three times per week but is having an affair with the secretary.  This is the person who claims to be a Christian, but lies on their taxes.  This is a person who smiles to your face, yet stabs you in the back.

The easiest way to describe this is to picture a split TV screen.  On the left it is pitch black with no picture.  On the right is pure blinding light.  If we are walking with Jesus, our character is only ever on the right screen, never on the left one.  All of our dealings, habits, thoughts, and words (to the best we are able) are done in the light of the truth and in accord with the way Jesus lives.  If our character is making frequent guest appearances on the screen on the left, we have a problem.  You have to pick a team.  You cannot play for two different teams.  You are either a Seminole or a Gator.  An Alabama fan or an Auburn fan.  You are for Jesus, or you are against Jesus.

Every decision we make, in essence, is voting for a team.  It is aligning ourselves with one side or the other.  That is why we cannot afford to live sloppily, readily making alliances with the enemy of our soul.

Is there any darkness in your life?  In what you watch, where you go, what you read, what you listen to, who you spend time with?  If so, step into the light in these areas today!

Dear Lord, show me where there is darkness in my life.  Help me to walk in your light and live a consistent Christian witness.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Sherri

 

Shades of Gray

 

 

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched- this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.  The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim what we have seen and heard, so that you may have fellowship with us.  And our fellowship is with the Father and with his son, Jesus Christ.  We write this to make our joy complete.  This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light and in him is no darkness at all.  I John 1:1-5

 

Shades of gray. 

Some things are black and white, others are gray areas.  Is it a lie to tell someone you like their hideous new hairdo?  Is it stealing if you find and keep a wallet with no ID in it?  When you are married is it OK to “look but don’t touch” other women/men?

The world would have you to believe that there are very few absolutes in this world.  Everything is relative.  In fact, that saying has been made into a slogan of sorts.  But is everything relative?  Is it really?

This passage makes it plain that God is absolute light.  There is no darkness; no shadow; now shades of gray.  He is pure, blinding light.  He is altogether glorious, marvelous and beautiful.  As children of God we are called to become more and more like him.  Compromising with the world, adding a dab of darkness here and there, will not really cut it.

Our world is increasingly dark.  The last twenty years has shown a huge moral decline.  The last 50 years shows an even greater contrast.  At one time, sex outside of marriage was a sin and a shame.  Then, it was acceptable if you were in a committed relationship leading to marriage.  Then it was OK if you were dating.  Then it was Ok if both of you were willing, no matter what.  What a huge paradigm shift!  Meanwhile, the truth of the Word of God remains absolute.  Sex outside of marriage?  Sin.  Always has been; always will.  This is just one example, but this can be applied in so many ways.  Do you remember when a handshake and someone’s word was absolute?  Do you remember when people approached little old ladies to help them across the street, rather than to rob them?

Indeed darkness has come to America.  Can you watch a single sitcom or drama that does not display darkness in some form?  Crude and coarse joking, inappropriate dress, blasphemy, taking the Lord’s name in vain.  These things are common, everyday occurrences.  They are the social norm of 21^st Century America.

But the Great I Am- Who is and Who was and Who is to come.  He changes not.  He is absolute light.  And if we want to have fellowship with him, we will have to acknowledge and respect his holiness.

O Lord, please keep me from the darkness of this world.  Help me to be like you.  Help me never to forget who you are or to view you differently than the Bible says you are.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Sherri

Rescued and Reassigned

“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.”  Colossians 1:13

 

Have you ever needed to be rescued?  I am so grateful that God has rescued us from the dominion of darkness. Before we came to Christ, we were all bound and held captive by a sin nature.  We had a desire to do wrong.  Even if we came to Christ at a young age, the darkness was still an issue.  Those of us who came to saving knowledge of Jesus at an older age are probably more aware of the power that darkness had over our lives.  Either way, his rescue of us was nothing short of miraculous.

If he had done nothing but rescue us, that would be just a beautiful thing.  But He always goes so much further.  He rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.  These are powerful prepositions because it shows a change of placement for us.  We were reassigned from darkness and brought into the kingdom of Jesus.- a kingdom of light and love.

Today, take a little time and reflect what you have been saved from and all of the blessings you have been brought into.  Doing this helps keep us focused on the fact that it all occurred by His action and never through our own.

Thank you Lord, for rescuing me.  Thank you for taking me up and making me your own.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Sherri

Need a Light?

“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.”  I John 1:5

We live in a dark world.  People’s idea of entertainment has slanted into darkness.  There is much evil, hatred and wickedness.  Movies, video games and books all portray increasingly violent, demonic or dark plots and graphics.   People are bound by addictions, desolate, hopeless and despairing.  The darkness can be so penetrating that is seems hard to combat.

But the good news is that God IS light.  Everything about him is light.  One day when we enjoy the new heavens and the new earth, Jesus will be our light.  He will be our source of constant light.  And even today, when life becomes dark around us, we can run toward the light.  He is our hope, our future, our deliverance and our peace.  We are blessed to have access to a light that other people crave.

As Christians, we are to be salt and light.  That really should not be too complicated given that He is light and as Christians, we are in Him. We cannot enjoy the same dark and worldly entertainments that sinners do.  We must be careful, as keepers or tenders of the light, to keep the flame bright that others may find their way to Jesus.

We need to pray and seek God to bring light to our families, our communities, our churches, our nation, and the world.

Dear Lord, make me aware of the darkness that pulls at me.  Help me to keep my light pure.  Help me to be a source of light to those with whom I come into contact.  Thank you that you repel darkness and provide hope.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Sherri