Even though I was in a hurry, I couldn't escape the meaning of the passage I was reading. As I read, I felt the words penetrate my heart and thoughts with conviction. All the things that had stressed me out or distracted me from God rose to the surface. "Not now," I thought abruptly and put my journal aside, still blank, and got ready to sleep. I didn't want to think about my latest failings. Conversations that hadn't gone right. Times I hadn't loved people to the best of my ability. Laziness and selfishness... the sorts of things that remind me how human and imperfect I really am.
I rolled over to turn off my lamp and I realized how messy my room was. Our laundry machine isn't working and when combined with the natural craziness associated with midterms and my general procrastinating tendencies... my room was ridiculously messy. "Ah, not now!" I thought again with the welling of more stress in my tummy. "I need to sleep. I'll just turn off the light and forget about this for now."
That's when it stuck me
\ \ | / / / /
light reveals mess.
/ / / | \ \
Think about that.
The Bible as our light isn't meant to be just words. It reveals. In our very deepest core are things we need to see both in our hearts, minds and actions. He uses so many ways to try and get our attention to show us a really beautiful and purposeful way to live but those principles often conflict with our natural tendencies. They become uncomfortable as we struggle to do things our own way. Like when you know you should be studying but are watching a movie instead. That slight discomfort that tends to be ignored.
Some people don't like to turn on the light because it is more comfortable going to sleep and forgetting about it. Using adages or excuses memorized long ago to put it off.
Although it's uncomfortable to be faced with our mess, it is only in the light that God can help us to start to clear it away, start over, bring peace and order. We aren't made to be creatures of the dark! We can't be active, thriving people by ignoring our problems. In darkness cleaning and organizing would be a nightmare. In the light, we live.
As Christians we are called to be a light to the world. Although that light is really warm and pleasant a lot of the time, there are also times when that light will be used to reveal mess that others don't want to see. And it will make them ANGRY. When Jesus shone light on the hypocrisy of the pharisees they were none too pleased. They wanted him dead! When faced with opposition or conflict, should we close our mouths and pretend that we don't have anything to say? God told us what to say, we should say it!
When we shine we shouldn't be afraid, dim or timid. Sure, we shouldn't throw lamps at people who have clearly hardened hearts, but that doesn't mean we should give up. It can be exceptionally hard and frustrating to shine for the people who accept the label but reject the life! "I'm a Christian, but that doesn't really make any difference in my life."
I hope light will be shone to reveal our messes. I hope that people would feel uncomfortable. Comfort creates complacency and inaction. How many times have we not acted to put an end to the travesties of our world due to our own comfort? How many movies have you watched where you think "That's terrible, we should do something!" yet fizzle it out in search of the next great product? Hotel Rawanda was one for me. Maybe this Kony movement is the same for you. We turn off the light on that which we don't want to see but most desperately need to. Even in your own life, are there things you've been feeling need to change yet you can't bring yourself to do it? Have you been living in a terrible mess and have lost hope of getting out? Think about it. In your own life, in how you interact with others, in how you interact with God, in society...
What have you left in the dark?
Isn't it time to Turn on the light?
No comments:
Post a Comment