A Light...

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

I was thinking about this scripture after our bible class the other night and thought how we often limit the scope of this instruction. As near as I can remember I believe that I have always heard this scripture applied to those of the world. That’s good, that’s how it should be, but I think we forget how much our light effects those around us in God’s family also.

Shinning on the world is good, John says the world is filled with darkness and loves the darkness… it doesn’t really know any better. It doesn’t know or has forgotten the blessings that come from being in the light. But what about those in God’s family who are struggling, who are barely holding on, who’s spirits are near the edge of breaking. Do we ever think about how important it is to shine the light in their direction also?

I was remembering a scene from the movie, “The Mummy”. In this scene at one point they enter a dark cavern like room below a pyramid. There is a shaft of light shining into the room from above. They move a ancient mirror in front of the shaft of light and direct it into the room where it shines upon other mirrors arranged around the room. Suddenly the whole room is bathed in light, you can see everything, treasures beyond imagination, more gold than you could spend in a lifetime.

I wonder how much treasure could be revealed if you took the time to shine your light on others the way you are supposed to? One of my favorite passages is Hebrews 3:12-13 where we are told, “see to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”

So, how about making a special effort this week to shine your light, it may make a difference in whether or not they turn away from God or not.

HALLOWEEN, MASKS AND THE ELECTION

Here we are at the Halloween season once again and I don’t aim to promote or condemn it as such just to make some observations. It’s a time for what we call “trick or treat,” which used to mean you pass out treats to those who visited because you wanted to do something nice for the children in you neighborhood. The visitors dress up in strange costumes, wear masks, wigs, face paint, etc. You passed out some treat or you might have your widows smeared with soap or something else as relatively mild as a consequence. It really was (and sometime still is) a community activity meant to be enjoyed.

Times have changed through the years though, for some, what had been a fun time has become a dark and dangerous time. Kids can’t go out unattended any longer, it’s not safe, there are human predators stalking our streets seeking to do harm to folks and property. That doesn’t speak well for our society does it? Many of the “Trick or Treaters,” have changed also. For some It’s no longer about just having fun it’s about “what you can get for yourself,” and what kind of destruction you can cause and the masks and costumes are just a way to hide your identity.

Of course as I was thinking about this, the current elections came to mind and how much they mirror the “Halloween Mentality”. It seems that all of those running for some office wear mask and costumes, trying to hide who they truly are and it seems also more interested in how holding some office can benefit them and not others. Now, I imagine that there are some politicians somewhere (I know one personally), who truly does seek only to help folks and not benefit themselves, but seems a rare thing. What comforts me in these troubled times is that if God can use ungodly men like king Nebuchadnezzar, and the Pharaoh of Egypt to serve his purposes he can still do it today.

Now here is the difficult thing; we don’t know God’s purpose or his reason for doing things in a certain way. What we do know is that God is in control and no matter who wins the earthly election, we have already won the eternal election if we are Christians. 2 Peter 1:5-8, “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Then in verse 10 & 11 he adds, “Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

The bottom line is that if we serve God faithfully, out Election to the eternal kingdom is assured. It’s an office for life, with no term limits. No masks, no costumes, only the real us revealed before God. I’m tired already of the earth elections, but excited about the eternal one, how about you?

I WANT A NEW ONE

I was doing some work at our house the other day and I kind of over did it. I worked on different projects for probably about 5 hours and I was so tired that I really didn’t feel like doing anything else the rest of the day. You probably know how that feels, just worn out.

The other day I saw an “older gentleman,” with a tee shirt that had a caption with which I could identify. It said, “This Body… One owner, High Mileage, Needs work!” Simple, straight forward, to the point! That describes me at times… and perhaps you also.

Folks often say that it would be great to “turn back the clock,” to a time when we were younger, with the addition of keeping the knowledge we have now. Yes, that is very appealing; a younger body, no aches, no pains, smooth skin, strong muscles, but at this point even with all of our medical technology it is just not possible; at least not possible here on earth.

I heard a story about a little boy who came running to his father and said, “Dad, I just figured what the Bible is about.” His days, said, “Really, what is it about?” The son answered, “It’s on the front, “B.I.B.L.E. and it means, Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.” I guess he got it right didn’t he, that just about sums it up. That is what the Bible is all about, because we for sure are not going to stay here on earth forever.

At times I’m ready for that change, the older I get the more I understand the power of the promise. That’s the promise the Apostle Paul was trying to help us understand in 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 where he said: “But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed!  It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed.  For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.”(NLT)

Yes, I’m ready for a new one, a new body, one like Jesus, no more pain, no more weariness; no more parts that sometimes refuse to cooperate. There is a time coming when my ‘High mileage” body will be traded in for a new one. That’s what I planning for, that what I’m looking forward to! How about you?