May His Light Be Brilliant In Us

The world is a dark place and getting darker. Isn't that a cheerful thought? I said the world is a dark place not our lives. Just because we are surrounded by darkness does not mean our life is without colour or joy. In fact, Jesus told us that through him we have abundant life. He uses us and our abundant living and the joy he gives us as lights in this darkness. We are not an oppressed people cowering from this hateful world. We are aggressive in our pursuit of bringing light, countering the darkness and hatred, and allowing people of the dark to see the light through us. We love for them to see Jesus in us because the world is a dark place and getting darker.

What a terrible thing it is when a Christian allows themselves to be covered by this darkness because they forget who they are and who they serve. It is sad when we allow worry, fear and anxiety to hide away our light. It is not only sad for us but for those who belong to the darkness. If they do not see us countering the darkness with the boldness and confidence of our faith they cannot see any hope for themselves. This is important because we are more than just worshipers of Jesus Christ, we are also his witnesses. We testify to the truth, to the salvation he has provided, the joy and peace, to his Lordship over everything. Perhaps we need to be reminded of this:

When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning. (John 15:26-27)

The fact that the Spirit testifies to the people of darkness who Jesus is should be a great encouragement to us in our mission. We are here to compassionately reach out to those who are still lost and who need to meet Jesus. It is an impossible task on our own but the Spirit is at work preparing people. We only need to listen and he will direct us to those who are ready. He has been working on their hearts, preparing them for the words we will share, the actions we will take, the prayer we will offer. It is a beautiful and incredible partnership-relationship we have with the Spirit.

It is important here to take note that we are to testify about Jesus and that testimony must be backed up by our actions. Do we really think people are going to be convinced by our words if we are constantly cowering in fear? Will they listen when we fall apart every time we encounter problems and challenges? Will they be attracted by our anxiety or bitterness, envy, pride, jealousies, bad mouthing, tearing down? Those things are part of the darkness and they already have plenty of that. They cannot see Jesus if that is what they are seeing in us.

Children of the light, warriors of Jesus, temples of the Holy Spirit, we must remember who we are and who we belong to and stop this nonsense of weakness. There is nothing weak about us because we are covered by the blood of Jesus and possessed by the Holy Spirit of God. Ours is the joy unspeakable and the peace that goes beyond understanding. We do not cower from the dark, we stand against it. We fear nothing because we are more than conquerors. Standing in obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ, we are his testimony and the whole world is looking in. We throw off everything that belongs to this world and we claim the things of the Kingdom. We stand in our birth-right knowing that every promise ever spoken by God belongs to us. We will not fear! We will not tremble! We will obey in love! We will overcome because we fight in the strength of our King. Begone fear! Begone worry! Begone anxiety! I am the testimony of Jesus Christ. So are you. May his light be brilliant in us! May the world see there is more than this dark world. To God be the glory!