Keepers of the Light

Make sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness. If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light.” (Jesus, Luke 11:35-36 NLT)

Wow.  I have been studying, thinking and praying through these verses, and again, “WOW – I’m undone. ”  This is what I felt God was showing me.  When we are FILLED with the light of Christ, it will affect our whole being – we are wholly bright (holy bright).  In Jesus’ prior words, He speaks about hiding the light under something – the light being hidden.  Within the context (connecting His words to the rest of the story) He speaks (in short) about folks needing to know He is greater than Jonah the messenger (and the message) He is greater than the wisdom of Solomon. (vss. 29-32) His light is GREAT and is divinely placed in public view, now we too are to keep it (Him & His message) in public view. He is Light. (John 8:12) We are keepers of the Light.

When I think of darkness, my mind automatically goes to the creepy things that go ‘BUMP’ in the night, or the evil that runs rampant in our world, and the demonic slithering around a corner.  All are true (sadly), yet the word Jesus uses paints a slightly different picture in this context. Darkness, (‘skotos’) is based around the thought of ‘shadiness’ – a covering so impeding, a faint image is only seen, it is obscure, lacking detail – just an outline.  Now put that in context to Jesus’ words:  Application: You think you got it right? Is my behavior read in such a way that HIS image is not clearly seen? Do people see a good BRIGHT picture of Jesus in me?  Do my choices shade the message of the gospel, obscuring it, fogging it up for others?  Do I allow my dark corners to bleed into the light, making my shine not so bright? (OUCH!)

In Jesus’ warning, ‘make sure’ (other translations; ‘see to it, take heed, watch out’) in the Greek it is a ‘present imperative’ – meaning, it is ONGOING – a constant watching!  Folks, we need to keep alert!  Also, “Make sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness.”  ‘You’ is singular, Jesus may have been talking to a crowd, but He was speaking to the individual!

May we be aware that the standard that we are presenting is not of our own making, Solomon wrote: “Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” (HA!  Sorry, that’s GOOD – Proverbs 26:12) May we strive to continually take inventory of our mindset, belief system and judgments that fuel our behavior. May we shine – JESUS shine in and through us, not we shine so brightly He is missing, just like city lights keep us from seeing the stars.  We don’t get to decide where the light should go, or who deserves it.  We let the light shine, and the Light and Love of God take it from there. (Go Holy Spirit!)

Remember when Jesus prayed for the blind man (Mark 8) He first spits in the guy’s eyes, (yup, really!) then asked if he could see anything, the blind man responded: “I see, but not very clearly, people look like trees walking around.” Jesus again placed His hands on the man, and then the man could see clearly.  Jesus wants a clear picture!

“No one lights a lamp and then hides it or puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house.” (v.33)

In Him, DeDe (“Let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love & good deeds.” – Hebrews 10:24)