Search and Destroy

The older I get, the more I appreciate light.  Everything is clearer, easier to see,  when there is light.

The Book of John characterizes Jesus as the “Light that shines in the darkness.” In John 1:4-5 he says this, “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.”

In John 8:12  Jesus is quoted using the term Light to describe Himself. Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

When I think of Jesus as the Light I remember a facial I once had. The esthetician (the professional term for people who give facials –had to look it up) put this 500 watt light bulb right up next to my face. She saw a lot of “imperfections” on my face that were not visible without that bright light. She played a round of “search and destroy” on those blemishes and It. Was. Painful. (I have never had another facial.)

God provided a similar experience when He taught me that every person ever born is born a sinner. I asked Him to show me if that was true about me.  He shined His light onto my life.

I was horrified to see the sin illuminated by the light of Truth. He did His own version of searching and destroying imperfections in me. He is still at work shining His Light on my sin. Like that facial, it can be painful, but it is always good.

The light is how I originally came to saving faith in Christ. But, there is so much more that Jesus has been shining His Light on in my life. Over the last couple of years, God has been shining the Light that others are emitting from their works of faith onto the way I have been thinking and understanding His Word.

Gracious Christians have been showing me the truth about our national, and my personal, complacency about the abortion holocaust that is occurring before our eyes. I have also been reminded of God’s commands about visiting the orphan and the widow, the general truth that we are to love our neighbors as ourselves, and the war against the family.

The light of Truth has me examining the way I serve God and my attitude about my own role in advancing His Kingdom. I see that there is a ton of work to be done for God’s kingdom!

Paul was clear with the Ephesians. We are saved by faith (we like that part), and we are saved for good works, “which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10b).

Once God has revealed truth to us with His Light, we are to be conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29). He is “the Light of the world.”

Are you or I willing to shine (like a 500 Watt bulb) for the sake of Jesus Christ?  Who needs to see your Light?