Light of the World

Light of the World
 
Do you recall a time of experiencing physical darkness (at night without a light, dark room, basement, snowstorm power outage, etc.) that brought fear or panic?

Dark sky reserves and parks are increasing in popularity. They are areas where the night skies are uninterrupted by the artificial lights of civilization. Currently, there are only 33 dark sky communities in the world, six of which are in Colorado. These are valuable places for scientific discovery, astronomy, and enjoyment! Darkness can be an amazing place to observe stars, planets, shooting stars, and other celestial bodies. One can enjoy the beauty of laying on your back at night and soaking in the awe of God’s creation!

But darkness can also instill fear and uncertainty. If you’ve tried to navigate a dark room, or path without a source of light, it can be dangerous and scary. The Bible uses darkness and light to illustrate a status of being lost, contrasted with living in the light of God’s truth and love!
David comments on this in Psalm 27:
 
The Lord is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?
When the wicked advance against me
to devour me,
it is my enemies and my foes
who will stumble and fall.
Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then I will be confident.
One thing I ask from the Lord,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in his temple.  Psalm 27:1-4

Psalms help us to learn more about God and our relationship with Him; in good times and trying times. In this Psalm, David holds nothing back. He shares joys, fears, and uncertainties. In this case, David was in trouble, being challenges by enemies, and yet he had hope! Why?

David has hope because He identifies strength and safety within his relationship with God. David doesn’t know how things are going to turn out, but his primary desire is to be in God’s presence. Sometimes we use the word hope to express a desired outcome:  I hope I will do well in school today. I hope my illness goes away. But there’s a different kind of hope that comes despite circumstances and outcomes. This is what David is expressing. He asks, “The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid? And ultimately: “One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.

This is hope. This is light in the darkness. This is confidence in who God is, and in His loving, guiding protection.
           
4832 Reflection:
If you had a special spotlight that you could focus on a dark place where you could really use some light in your life right now, where would you shine it?
May it be our goal to love others in a way that reflects the light of Jesus. May we stand up for truth in a way that reflects the light of Jesus. May we share the good news about Jesus with a lost world in a way that reflects the light of Jesus. In all we do, may we shine bright for Christ.