Light For Life

I can only imagine what it would be like to dwell in a dark hole for several weeks or months. I’ve seen prisoners of war depicted in movies being put in a dark place for several weeks and then suddenly exposed to brightness of sunshine. Our eyes adjust to the darkness and they adjust to the light. I really like to wear sunglasses on a sunny day because my eyes struggle to adjust, and I’m convinced contact lenses make it a bit worse. I am not a fan of darkness. I’m not really afraid of the dark, but certainly prefer the lighted areas best. Paul compares sin and salvation to darkness and light. Check this out…

⁸ For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! ⁹ For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.

¹² It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. ¹³ But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, ¹⁴ for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, 

“Awake, O sleeper,
    rise up from the dead,
    and Christ will give you light.”

¹⁵ So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. (Ephesians 5:8-9,12-15 NLT)

I think Paul is giving some sound instructions about playing with the darkness. I was introduced to the light of the Lord when I was in third grade. I believed in God and His Son Jesus. I wanted to go to heaven when I die. I must confess that there have been some dark times in my life when I pretended to follow the Lord but lived and played around some in the darkness. I’ve been busted for my hypocrisy as well.  I don’t know anyone who is perfect except the Son of God. I am responsible for my choices and my behavior. I’m so thankful that the Lord has been so patient with me as I figured out just how empty and void the darkness is. I am profoundly changed after walking in the Light with Him for the past several years. I want to let His light shine into my heart to reveal the areas that still need attention and change.

A song from many years ago (the 90’s) came to mind. It was recorded by DC Talk.

I want to be in the Light
As You are in the Light
I want to shine like the stars in the heavens
Oh, Lord be my Light and be my salvation
Cause all I want is to be in the Light
All I want is to be in the Light (written by Robert Plant, John Paul Jones & James Patrick)

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Pressing On!

Dwayne