I visited an elderly lady who
was hospitalized after a fall. As I rounded the corner in the hall near
her room, I heard her shaky voice, “Somebody help me. Please.” She repeated it
again. She felt alone, afraid, unsure of why she wasn’t ‘home,’ and where
she was. Then, I stepped into the room. It was like a light turned on.
Her face brightened with recognition. Despite the dementia that has stolen much
of her mind, she knew my face and my presence calmed her. I pulled a chair
close to her and we talked. When my visit was over, we prayed together
and her love for Jesus was evident as she joined in my prayers with quiet
‘amens’ and murmured agreement. Yes, she may be in the twilight of life,
but the Light shines deep in her heart!
Jesus promised His Presence
to be with each of us and says that He will dispel our fear and
confusion. Read the promise - “I am the light of the world. Whoever
follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
(John 8:12, NIV) If Christ is your Lord, you will know purpose and
direction. Some ‘walk in darkness,’ living in confusion, making one
harmful choice after another, falling over obstacles. What is obviously the
‘right way’ to live for a person filled with the Light of Christ is not at all
clear for that one who does not enjoy the illumination of the Spirit! A
Christian talked with me recently about some friends whose lives are a genuine
mess – relationally, financially, and spiritually. “Can’t they see the
stupid mistakes they keep making over and over again?” she asked. I
assured her that they cannot, because their minds are clouded by sin, their
hearts darkened by disobedience.
Christian, I urge you to ‘live
in the Light!’ The Scripture makes this declaration: "You
were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.” We stumbled around,
making bad decisions, confused by life, until the Light came into our lives.
So, now we can and we must choose to “Live as children of light (for the
fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find
out what pleases the Lord.” We can turn from the Light. Some do! And
when they do, the purposeful, hopeful life they enjoyed is lost to the dark.
That is why the Word reminds us to “Have nothing to do with the fruitless
deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention
what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes
visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:
“Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
(Ephesians 5:8-14, NIV
Living in the light of Christ
is not a ‘once and done’ decision. Yes, we will respond to the call of the
Spirit and receive Him as our Savior. Then, each day, we are given the
choice – live obediently, accepting His leadership; or turn to Self. When
we turn from Him, we dim the light. The further we walk from Him, the
more that the darkness overtakes us. Sin flourishes in the dark, like
mold on our soul. God has better things planned for us and calls us into
the light.
There are more blessing for
those who live with Christ. The Bible says when we "walk in the
light, God himself being the light, we also experience a shared life with one
another, as the sacrificed blood of Jesus, God’s Son, purges all our sin."
(1 John 1:7, The Message) Our connection to the Body of Believers
strengthens and there is the joy of fellowship. And, in the light, sin loses
its attraction, driven from us.
So, light or dark? What will
you choose? Wandering, alone and afraid or striding with purpose, toward
the heavenly goals evident in the Light? You choose.
____________
Shine, Jesus, Shine
Lord, the light of Your
love is shining,
In the midst of the
darkness shining.
Jesus, Light of the world,
shine upon us.
Set us free by the truth
You now bring us!
Shine on me, shine on me!
Shine, Jesus, shine!
Fill this land
With the Father's glory.
Blaze, Spirit, blaze!
Set our hearts on fire.
Flow, river, flow!
Flood the nations
With grace and mercy.
Send forth Your word,
Lord,
And let there be light.
Graham Kendrick
© 1987 Make Way Music (Admin.
by Music Services, Inc.)
CCLI License # 810055
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