A Lamp to my Feet

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105

Have you ever gone for a walk on a very dark night? Be careful when you do; you might stub your toe. You could fall and hurt yourself. And if you don't have a light, you will end up going well out of your way.

Life is dark. Lots of the time it's hard to know where we're going. There are many distractions to lead us out of our way; money, people, disappointments. I'll be honest. For me, it's hard even to walk in a straight line! My life is a full of zig-zags and backtracks, off and on God's road. Sometimes I can't see which way to go, and I've been a Christian for a long time!

What gets me off-track? Doubt, (usually caused when I listen to politically charged Christians with whom I disagree.) Money, (or rather, lack of it.) My own desires (I can get pretty distracted.) In other words, I'm not looking at Jesus; I'm looking at the world.

We expect God to be a floodlight. And because He’s not, we're disappointed in Him, or we assume that He simply doesn't exist. But He is a light to our feet… we can see just far enough to step forward without tripping, and no more. That's all He's offered us, so wishing for more, (or worse - pretending), doesn't help.

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. Matthew 7:13

So where is this gate? There's even a lot of argument among Christians about exactly where that road is! Do I need to be baptized? Do I need to follow the Latin mass? Personally, I believe that all I need to do is to love Jesus and to keep trudging along. I believe that the path is pretty easy to see... if I'm looking at Jesus.

Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12

I think God gives us each a flashlight. We can see, but only a few steps ahead. If we keep our light aimed at Jesus - not at the world - we'll make it.
The question is – do you have your flashlight? Does it have fresh batteries? Is it pointed in the right direction? (Here's a hint - spend time reading the Bible, and pray. Prayer includes listening.)

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12

If you do this, you'll be fine.

Peace, Love, Light

You Are the 100 Watt Bulb of the World?

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5 14-15

When reading this, I’ve always pictured a fire on a hill at night; soft, warm, inviting. People are attracted to it. Or a house that’s warm and cozy, the light shining out through the windows.

I just got a picture in my head of the way many Christians try to be the “light of the world.” It’s a picture from those old police TV shows. An interrogation. A criminal (the bad guy) is kept in a chair, against his will of course, and the “Christians” (the good guys) shine a bare light bulb in his face. He squints and tries to shield himself from it. The “Christians” hope he’ll break down and say, “Okay, okay, I want to be a Christian too!” (Then they all get on their knees and help him pray the sinner’s prayer and everybody’s happy.) How appealing is that?

You might know some of these people. You might even be one. They’re especially common on the web. They barge in, telling others that they’re sinners and need to be saved. They don’t try to get to know people first; just tag them:

Sinner – going to hell. Target and save. Next…

I want to be the light on the hill. I want to be the warm, inviting light that attracts people, because they say, “I want what she’s got.” I don’t have a quota of people to save, so there’s no need to go out and wrestle sinners to the ground. There are plenty of people around me in my life. It’s no secret that I’m a Christian. I “do good deeds;” not to show people what a great Christian I am, but because it’s the right thing to do. I’ve never cornered anyone and started a theological argument, but I’m open to discussion if someone wants to.
I’ve talked to many atheists and agnostics who hate Christians… and Christ! Why? Because their image of Christ is wholly negative. They can’t even see Jesus past that glaring bulb!

I urge all Christians to turn off the ugly bulb and light a candle.

Peace, love and light