What would it take to get the lights turned on?
There is a young man who lives around the corner from us. He use to live with his father in his fathers house, but ever since his father passed away, this young man has been living in the house alone and in the dark…
Literally.
Because of choices of a certain lifestyle, this young man spends all of his money on drinking and drugs and chooses to live in the house with no electricity. He has lived like this for years. It is a lifestyle, that quite honestly, I cannot even comprehend. With the climate that we live in here in the south, how can one be without air conditioning in the heat of the summer or be without a working furnace on the brisk cool nights of the winter?
Driving by his house the other day, I wondered to myself, “what would it take to get the lights turned on?” The simple resolve would be for someone to just pay his electricity bill each month, but the logical and most important resolve would be for this young man to leave behind those things that keep him in the dark.
We live in a world not so far fetched from this young man. I am quite certain that most of you reading this post have electricity in your home with plenty of light illuminating and plenty of heat to keep you warm on a cold winters night. But I wonder how many of you go into places that are not so brightly lit, the darkness over-weighs the light and it is difficult to see the power at work at all. I am talking about living in a world that is void of the light and power of Christ!
What a difference a small glimpse of light can make in a darkened room. Late at night when I enter my bedroom, in order to not disturb my sleeping husband, I use the light of my cell phone to lighten my path so I don’t stumble or stub my toe. Its just a small light, but its enough to show me the way. However, if I were to turn on the main light, oh how brightly it would shine, it would not only help me to find my way but it would erase all of the darkness that once was present.
When I go into my world, at my workplace, or at the grocery store or visiting with my unsaved family members, I have to ask myself the same question that I asked about my neighbor…”What would it take to get the lights turned on?” How far would I be willing to go to remove the darkness that so many of these that I rub shoulders with are in?
“Then Jesus spoke again saying, I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” -John 8:12
For many people, it is only a matter of turning the power switch on. But… we have to be willing to share Gods love and light with them. Instead of wondering why they continue to live in the dark, isn’t it time that we reach our hand out and walk them into the light?
There is so much power in His light…our footsteps become more steady, our attitudes change, and our love grows deeply for others. There is someone, maybe a neighbor, maybe a friend, a co-worker or maybe a loved one just waiting to have alittle light illuminated in front of them so they can find their way.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank You for lighting my world. Because of You, I no longer walk in darkness, help me now to show your light to others so that all can see. In Your name, I pray. AMEN
Now … go and let your Light shine!
Visit my blog for more devotionals… www.womentakingastand.blogspot.com
Shine on my friend, shine on.
Oh Laurie! WHAT A MESSAGE!
Coming in from the “Greater Compassion Conference” in Baton Rouge last weekend–our hearts were so burdened and FULL of tears for those lost without God…and for the hurting who don’t have a clue that God is just a whisper away….
We need reminders like your post DAILY to keep our focus where it should be…those in the dark.
Great job! May we reach hearts for HIM!!!
Powerful message, Laurie. You are right about us be willing to share the Light with the ones we encounter day in and day out. May He give me the courage to do so.
In one of the books I’m reading it talks about how the light shines so much more brightly against the darkness that surrounds it.
Enjoyed your post!