How to be the light this world needs

“He is the light that darkness cannot comprehend.”

In last week’s post, I wrote about the struggle to shine God’s light.

If you grew up in the Christian faith, then you were probably taught that you are the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matt. 5:13-16).

You were probably reminded of Jesus’ famous words on the mount:

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Matthew 5:16

Yet we do not always live these words.

We know these truths with our heads but still struggle to live this way with our hearts and souls.

I have mentioned two common reasons why we struggle to shine:

1. We think our ability to shine is up to us.
2. The world we live in is more real to us than God’s word.

You can read more about the first reason here.

The second point is a bit more complicated. It speaks to the difference between facts and the truth.

Our reality (facts) tells us one thing, and the truth (Christ) says something entirely different.

And since we are imperfect beings, at war with our flesh and vices, it is often difficult to listen to the gentle whispers of God’s truth rather than the glaring noise of our circumstances.

 

The doctor’s report is more real to us than a scripture that reminds us that ‘by His stripes, we are healed…’

A dwindling bank account has us breaking a sweat and in a cycle of worry and fear rather than the scriptures that remind us that when we seek God first then everything else falls into place (Matthew 6:33) and that God is able to supply our needs and do much more than we can ask or imagine (Phil 4:19 & Eph. 3:20).

If he can feed 5000 with five loaves of bread and two pieces of fish, why is his ability to take care of us questioned? (Matt. 14:17-19)

Basically, we are more likely to look to our circumstances in forming our identity than to look at what God is saying about us and to us.

This constant struggle means we often work from the flesh rather than the spirit. We act from a place of fear and not from a place of freedom in Christ. We act like slaves rather than the sons and daughters we are.

Even as we acknowledge this struggle, we cannot give up or fail to strive for the place of sonship.

Ye are the daughters of God

Thankfully, our Heavenly Father has made certain promises, in His word, to help us in seasons of fear and uncertainty.

In the popular verse in Isaiah 60, he says:

The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.”

Isaiah 60:19

The sun and moon in Isaiah 60:19 represent the world’s ways of illumination and problem-solving. It is a way limited to the power of the things happening around us.

But we serve a limitless God who has promised to be our everlasting light.

I will let that sink in.

He is not promising to be there occasionally but forever.

And he actualised this promise by giving us the gift of His Holy Spirit, so He is no longer far from us but a constant companion able to shine His light into every dark crevice and circumstance.

Hallelujah!

The Inevitable Decision

You may say:

“Chioma, this is all well and good. However, I have the Holy Spirit, yet I still struggle.”

You’re right.

We were not promised perfection, nor were we promised a problem-free life. But we know that our Saviour will continue His good work in us and complete it upon his return. (Philippians 1:6)

Our God is calling us to a whole new level.

A level of total dependence on Him to set the course of our daily lives.

This way, we do not fall prey to the transience of our affections or the insatiable desires of our flesh but to the powerful contentment that comes from total surrender to His will.

This type of life does not come normally but from a place of relationship.

And so, my question to you today is this:

Will you surrender to your Heavenly Father’s everlasting light?

I pray you do. Amen