Last night I awoke in the middle of the night. The house was dark and quiet, but my brain couldn't seem to slow down. Isn't it funny how anxious thoughts and oppressively long to-do lists seem to multiply and flourish in the darkness? The same worries and concerns that weigh us down in the night watches and cost us restful slumber seem to shrink into proper proportion with the dawn of the morning rays. Somehow the new day encourages us that God is in control, as we truly experience that His mercies are new every morning. "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." (Lam. 3:22-23)
Boy, we know that in the morning light, but so often the darkness can veil that great truth from our frenzied minds. In addition to their antithetical appearances, there's just something intrinsically and dramatically different in our hearts and minds between the light and the darkness, isn't there? We can fear the dark, but not the light. The darkness clouds our vision, but not the light. We can lose our way or experience cold or loneliness or despair to a much greater degree in the darkness than in the light. Darkness hides: light illuminates.
And our Savior declared that "I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12) John tells us that "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." (John 1:4-5) He is our Light! He lights our paths and illumines our hearts and minds. His light overcomes the darkness of our hard hearts and our fretting minds. O how thankful I am that He is the Light of the World, the Light of my world! Even in the darkest night, I have my Light with me.
But the Lord Jesus also made it clear that we are now the light of the world, and we are to let our light shine: "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (Mt.5:14-16)
As I was driving along in the car today, I pondered these words. I thought about how my menacing concerns during the night always grew much smaller and more manageable in the light. Jesus is my Light, and yet how quickly I can lapse into fretting over worries or fussing over work to be done. Forgive me, Father! And how is that letting my light shine? How can I reflect the light of Jesus to my world or to my family if I'm anxious or restless or discontent?
And then it hit me: Jesus tells us that we "are" the light of the world--not "maybe someday if you work really hard," or "if you really improve," or "if you are super-spritual," or "if you have tremendous faith." Nope, He simply tells us we ARE the light of the world. Why?--because HE is the Light of the World, and if He is our Savior then He is our Light and our life. Once again, it's not about us manufacturing the light or trying really hard or earning it in someway--it's all by Him, all for Him, all of Him, all in Him. He's the Light--we just reflect His light.
In the same way, aren't you thankful He urges us to "let your light shine?" He doesn't tell us to go out and find the light or do your best to be the light or somehow or other make the light or find the light within. Our task is infinitely simpler and more glorious--our only job is to LET the light shine. Because He is the Light, we daily have the choice and the privilege of letting the light shine. We determine with our attitude, with our actions, with our thoughts, with our words, whether we will let His light shine or whether we will cloud and dim and hide His light. But the light, His Light, is there--we just have to let His light shine through us.
Whew, thank You Jesus that You are the Light of the World! You are our Light. And You will shine Your Light through us if we will simply let Your Light shine. Shine on, Lord shine on, and help us to let Your light shine as we reflect You. To our Light of the World be all the glory.
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