Let the Light Shine

In the past few weeks, my husband, Brooks and I took on the project of repainting our dining set we use on our back porch. This we did in two steps, first we painted all the rattan on the chairs, and then just recently we applied a fresh coat of black on the chair legs and the table. We took all the pieces out to his shop so that we could paint in the cool but the drawback there is not quite enough lighting. It is really hard to see when you are applying black paint onto black paint and using a black brush so before we decided the job was complete, Brooks pulled out the flashlight to get a better view of the job we’d done. Oh, there were so many places we’d missed and flaws that had not gotten covered that we spent a few more minutes tidying up our paint job.

As we were going back over those areas, I thought about how similarly Jesus shines His light on us and exposes our flaws and rough places; we don’t like such exposure. Many people are repelled by the light of Jesus Christ because His perfection reveals our flaws. Jesus said about Himself in John 3:19-20, “This is the basis for judgment: The light came into the world, and people loved darkness more than the light, for their actions are evil. All who do wicked things hate the light and don’t come to the light for fear that their actions will be exposed to the light.” (CEB)

Think about it: when you want to have a romantic dinner, you do it over candlelight, not under a spotlight. Why is that? We don’t like a bright light shining on us when we are trying to romance somebody because we don’t want them to see our imperfections and flaws. My mother used a similar example when I was younger in which she explained the reason nightclubs and like establishments kept lights low and she would go on to tell me that was not a place to be found when Jesus came back.

We do not have to remain in darkness and suffer the consequences of our sins, flaws and rough spots. God has provided a solution to the problem and here in John 12:46, we read Jesus’ words as He says, “I have come as a light into the world so that everyone who believes in me won’t live in darkness.” (CEB)

As Christians, we are undergoing a process toward perfection which He will complete. Paul tells us in Philippians 1:5, “I’m sure about this: the one who started a good work in you will stay with you to complete the job by the day of Christ Jesus.” (CEB)

Do not shy away from having the light shine on your dark spots, allow Jesus to come into your life and bring His light.