This Little Light of Mine Pt. 3

To recap from This Little Light of Mine Pt. 2, we discussed the state of darkness that the world is in though ironically the world focuses on enlightenment (e.g. self, surroundings, spirituality, etc.).  I believe we agreed this is an oxymoron.  Why?  I think my Favorite Book can say it far better than I can:  “ …They are blind guides leading the blind, and if one blind person guides another, they will both fall into a ditch.”  Matthew 15:14 (NLT)

·       Society founded  "enlightenment" in the 18th century and subscribed to the belief that knowledge is light.

·       The tragedy was and is the emphasis on one aspect of knowledge, things: materialistic and biological.

·       Philosophers, educators and politicians have failed.  They are great at analyzing but no solution is offered.  Why?  They can’t give you what they don’t have.  Instead they filibuster and/or throw money at it (the problems) or at least give the appearance that they are.

So do we give up and call it a day?  Go to the Dollar Store to purchase Christmas Tree Lights and hang ourselves from the shower rod?  No, there’s never a need for us to give up.  We (Believers) have the answer.  The answer is The Light, Jesus Christ.  Why would I call him The Light?  I’ll let him tell you.  Go head Jesus, I’ll wait. 

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”  John 8:12 (NLT)  Jesus went hard didn’t he?

Let me interpret the above passage for you.  Basically Jesus is saying, I’m the deal, I’m the Big Daddy of Light, there is nothing and no one brighter, better or bigger than him.  Now that’s some OJ stuff right there, Original Jesus Stuff.  He can get away with that type of statement but don’t you try that at home or anywhere else for that matter.

Let’s go a little further in the narrative. 

2 Corinthians 4:4 (NLT):  Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.   

Tania Not Tania nugget:  Yes you heard it Satan is the god, with a little “G”, of this world, the earth.  Does that mean he is God. NO!!!!!  Does that make him equal to God, Almighty, who knows all, sees all and is everywhere all at the same time with the ability to reign in my heart, yours, yours and every other Believer without forgetting to answer our prayers, bless us, wake us up, speak a word to our individual circumstances whether it is directly, through someone or something.   Absolutely not.  Don’t get it twisted, Satan does have some power on loan, however, when it comes down to him wanting to use that power against us, he absolutely, unequivically, CANNOT, does not, compare to God’s immeasurable power, resources and/or abilities.  Even with the limited power that Satan has, he must, do you hear me, he must obtain God’s permission to use it to launch any attack against us.  Do you understand what this means?  We will never ever be subjected to return and/or remain in the darkness because God’s son, Jesus is our light and we have his guarantee that he will never ever leave nor forsake us.  Listen, even when we don’t know the outcome of our situation, etc. our pathway is still illuminated.

Referencing the text above, the God of this world blinds those who serve him, all unbelievers, from seeing the truth.  Stop banging your head against the wall trying to figure out whey So N So, Bobby Lee, Amy Jo and ‘nem don’t get it (the simple plan of Salvation), the text above answers that question for you; they are blind to the truth – seeing, understanding, believing -- the Good News.  They don’t understand it by the design of Satan.  Listen, you don’t know what you don’t know.  In a nutshell, the unbeliever’s god, blinds them, he hides the truth from them. Is that a cold piece or what?  Rather than portray frustration, exasperation, anxiety, etc. pray this little prayer:   “Father, I thank you for opening their eyes, ears and mind to the truth.

Philippians 2:12-16a (NLT): Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.  For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.  Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the word of life ….

It’s important that we live in the light authentically and consistently, not just when church leaders, in particular a Pastor, can sees us.  That’s the wrong motive and their thank you, pat on the back affirming your work, if you get that, is about the only reward you’re going to get.  Do you not know that some people live for that type of affirmation?  That’s why they will cut your throat (metaphorically speaking, though some people might try to do so literally) to get that affirmation.  It’s amazing what people will do to be recognized.  

How can we live in the light?

·       Obey God with deep reverence and fear (Respect him and his word)

·       Respect the process because it is God who gave you the desire to do the right thing which is to please him;

·       Don’t complain, argue or criticize others;

·       Live clean innocent lives like little children

o   Not that we become naiive and allow people to walk all over us but to live free from worry, doubt and fear, blindly trusting that God will do exactly what he said he would

·       Get a bulldog grip on the Word and never ever let it go

There are so many scriptures on “the Light” being “a light” but not enough time to share them with you.  So instead I want to challenge you to review one of the bible applications (e.g. blueletterbible.com; youversion.com, etc.) search for the “the light”; read the scriptures that populate from the search and meditate on each one that “jumps out at you”.  Not every one of them will but the ones that you are meant to discover will.  Take note of them and record them somewhere because if the text “jumps out at you”, that is God’s way of speaking to you and there is a hidden treasure in that text waiting to be discovered by you.  The time is ripe now.

I want to close with this text:  2 Corinthans 5:20 (NLT):  So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 

What is an ambassador? Dictionary.com says s/he is: 1) a diplomatic official of the highest rank, sent by one sovereign or state to another as its resident representative; 2) a diplomatic official of the highest rank sent by a government to represent it on a temporary mission, as for negotiating a treaty; 3) a diplomatic official serving as permanent head of a country's mission to the United Nations or some other international organization; 4) an authorized messenger or representative

Christ’s diplomatic officials are not like: Candlelights, Skylights, Christmas Lights, Light switches, Flashlights, Blacklights or Flickering Lights, we are The Light of The World.  Matthew 5:16

Got Light?  I’m out of time, that’s it for now.

In His New Excellence

Tania Not Tanya