The Light of Life

In the short, often cloudy, days around the end of the year, we often find ourselves longing for daylight, for bright sunshine. It is something we enjoy having, and something we miss when it is in short supply.

While there is beauty in a colorful, lingering sunset, and a brilliant, cloud-splashed dawn brings renewed hope and joy, and even a dark, flower-fragrant, star-filled summer evening can bring relaxation after a long, work-filled day, we gain more benefit from clear direct sunshine than we often understand.

In the most basic forms, the light from the sun is used by green leafy plants to produce the nutrients all animals need, directly or indirectly, for nourishment and continued life. We not only benefit from the eating of the plants and animals, but we also have needs that are met by direct exposure to the light, as well.

From the complex, but enjoyable, process our bodies follow to create the critical immunity-boosting hormone vitamin D when sunlight hits our skin to the subtle but essential regulation of our circadian rhythms which allow us to enjoy restful sleep and maintain emotional balance, sunlight brings us life and maintains our health and well-being.

Some life, however, grows in places without direct sunlight, not using the direct rays of the sun. These lifeforms exist on the products of decay and the breakdown of once-living plants and animals. Direct sunlight is to them, at best, something ignored and, at worst, something destructive.

God's sustaining grace and unconditional love is shed abroad, as is the sunlight, on the world. All who will are free to partake and enjoy the benefits. There are those, however, who shun the light; some from distaste, some from misplaced fear, some from ignorance.

We who have accepted the redeeming gift of salvation purchased by Jesus and offered freely to whosoever will have that love, that life-giving light available to us to share freely and generously to those around us. As ambassadors, as His arms outstretched, we go into the dark places built to shut out the light, and we bear witness of that light, testifying to the newness of life, joy, purpose, direction, hope, strength, love that is lacking in the limiting lifestyles available without the light of the Lord.

John 5:6 Wilt thou be made whole?

Jesus did not ask for a reason why that man was still by the pool of Bethsaida after 38 years. He simply offered unconditional acceptance and grace when He saw the hunger and the faith in the man's heart. May we also bear His grace to others in the simplicity of His love.

Isaiah 40:31 Those who trust in the Lord for help will find their strength renewed. They will rise on wings like eagles; they will run and not get weary; they will walk and not grow weak.

The life-giving light of God, as we draw each step closer to the heart and the throne of God, brings greater benefits as it grows stronger in our life. As we are given greater tasks to do, so we must draw deeper on the Spirit to find the resources to achieve them. This need for more of God encourages us to keep less of ourselves.

Revelation 21
v.9 ...Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.
v.10 ...and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.
v.11 It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, likae a jasper, clear as crystal.
v.23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light and the Lamb is its lamp.

Our ultimate goal to become transformed into the image of Christ, a Body that is responsive to its Head as a trained athlete's, a bride without spot, blemish, or wrinkle, found by the Father to be worthy of the Groom.

Proverbs 31
v.10 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
v.11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
v.12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.

Father of lights, we rejoice that You have brought us out of the darkness of the soul and led us into Your light-giving life. We thank You that Your transforming Spirit has fashioned us into tools You deem fit for use in Your work as the Master Craftsman. Lord, we humbly acknowledge that we are earthen vessels bearing the glory of Christ and we point to You in all we do and say, asking only that You receive the glory and the praise. Be lifted up today, Lord, as we walk in Your life and speak Your word into the lives of those You bring us to.

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