Been doing a bit of reminiscing today…
One year ago today was the very first time I posted this blog. Actually, it is the third blog (how fun is that!). God is so good!
It was encouraging to see spelling errors, spiritual growth, and once again enjoyed the sweet memory my husband and I shared during that Israel trip, and reading over the challenges from God’s Word…tis so sweet!
Yes, I did make those typo changes, add, and subtract a few things..I sure did (though I think I added more than I subtracted…lol), but I would like to share this with you once again, “Is YOUR Light On?”
One of the coolest things I remember is when my husband and I were in Israel sitting at the foothills on the Sea of Galilee one night. While we sat there talking, we couldn’t help but look. We were drawn to the mountains. The intense blackness that “was out there” was unreal. The longer we sat chatting the longer we looked. Seemingly out of no where, we began to see glimmers of light appearing here, there, then….oh, over there, up there…see another one…there too. Out of nowhere popping up all over the mountianside. Little glimmer here. Little glimmer there. Lights that pierced through the blackest of darknesses.
It was an amazing site to behold because just moments before there was complete blackness–you would have never known life existed up there until now.
For me this was a life changing event. A memory that has drawn my heart, soul, and mind to think about the words of Jesus when He said, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid” [Matthew 5:14-16].
I have to chuckle a little here, because truly, Jesus knew what He was talking about when He was speaking these very words. It is impossible to hide even the smallest source of light in the midst of complete blackness.
I think of the ‘blackness’ that surrounds us {outwardly & inwardly} including myself here, my friends! We call it ‘spiritual warfare.’ It comes in many forms but satan’s two most powerful weapons of attack are: 1) fear and 2) pleasure.
- Fear = by suggesting that obedience to God will result in the loss of something we believe we must have in order to be happy.
- Pleasure = by protraying the joys that disobedience will bring us. He frightens us with thoughts that God isn’t really good and loving; he entices us with thoughts of how we might as well look for any avenue to please ourselves.
Sin never looks like sin, if it did we wouldn’t be enticed. Satan is the great deceiver, the father of lies, but make no mistake his temtpation does not put anything into us that is not there already. Our flesh is alive and well. For without Christ we can do nothing–it is only through Christ alone, His Spirit within us, the active choice of putting-off and putting-on of Christ, that we are not consumed. Remember, satan cannot indwell a believer, but he surely knows how the human heart functions. Maybe better than you know ourselves.
Other forms of darkness:
- The lost world around us that needs Christ, yet chooses to reject Him (remember we were once there!).
- Our neighbors, the check-out lady, the gas station attendee, the waitress, the visitor we fail to welcome, it is even the regular-attender at church.
- It is are own flesh — that when left to itself is sinful, proud, self-filled, and self-serving (from within and from without).
…I cannot help but think – “Is my light on?”
Yes, I am a child of God [thank you, Lord for saving my soul!]. I am a sinner saved by the precious blood of Jesus and by His incredible grace. I know where my eternity will be spent despite my human failures for it is of the Lord’s mercies I am not consumed.
God’s love for me/you is not determined upon my actions or lack of actions for Him. God’s love for me/you is not measured by how much I love Him or not. God’s love for me/you is unchangeable. It cannot change. God cannot love us anymore or anyless. God loves me. God loves you. PERIOD!
I don’t know about you, but I am eternally indebted to Christ and as I think back to that night on the Sea of Galilee, those glimmering lights, and Jesus’ words in Matthew it causes me to wonder about my heart of gratitude to the One who has given me everything even while I was yet unlovely.
- Now that I am His, have I grown in my love for Him?
- Have I changed over the years–am I more like Him or still like myself?
- Has my love increased or deceased?
- Am I like that light or candle set on a hilltop that can be seen for miles that points others to Christ, that lights the way, that breathes Christ?
“Is MY light ON?” like that very first day my personal darkness turned to day because Jesus turned on my light on and changed my life forever [my salvation day] or have I slowly put my light on “dimmer” or “autopilot”?
I think Revelations where Jesus spits out (vomits) the lukewarm.
Jesus made is clear when He said in Matthew, “YOU are the light of the world.”
Is your light…
ON???
In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}
In Christ I am SHE 