The Difference Light Makes
By: Kristen L. McNulty
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As part of a planned out birthday conspiracy organized by friends, my brother and sister blindfolded me and brought me to an unknown location. Once there I was lead around, blinded to the world around me.
At first the thought terrified me. I mean, I couldn’t see where I was going and had to rely on my brother to guide me around potholes and various obstacles. Then with a slight move of my head, the blindfold shifted and I was able to see a slit of light. Suddenly the darkness wasn’t so bad and I wasn’t quite as anxious to have the blindfold removed.
A little light made a lot of difference.
In the book of Matthew, chapter 25, Jesus tells the story of ten bridesmaids. They all had lamps, but only five of them were wise enough to bring extra oil. The groom gets delayed, the oil runs out, and soon five of the bridesmaids have no light.
They go out and search for more oil, but by the time they are back the doors to the marriage feast are locked and the bridesmaids are left outside.
A little light made a lot of difference.
I for one find this truth to be resonated over and over again in my own life. Let’s face it- we live in a very dark world. Bad things happen all around us, satan prowls, and there days when I feel like one of those bridesmaids standing there with a lamp but no oil to fuel the light.
Fortunately Christ has not just come to give us eternal life, but to be our light here in this world! After all, Jesus did call Himself the light of the world (John 8:12).
In Psalm 18 David captures this idea when he writes: “Lord, you have brought light to my life; my God, you light up my darkness.”
David knew what it was like to experience the light of God in his life and that same light is offered to you and I today.
God wants to step into our darkness and help to light the way. He doesn’t expect us to walk through this life blinded. Instead He wants us to allow Him to light up the way. Whether your darkness is sin or circumstances, God wants to put some light in your life.
Don’t get me wrong though. That doesn’t mean that we will never experience darkness- we will as long as we walk through this fallen world. What it does mean though is that as we search for God alone in the darkness, He will come alongside us and provide some light.
So how do we get this light? Well in Psalm 119, it says that God’s word is a lamp unto our feet. If we want to see here and now, we need to obtain God’s vision and the only way we can do that is through prayer and God’s Word.
You may object to that, but it is the truth. Not spending time in God’s word and complaining about the darkness is the equivalant to me complaining about not being able to see after my friends told me I could take the blindfold off. Not a very valid complaint at all.
God wants us to see things the way that He does- in His light. The rest is up to you.
This devotional was aired as a part of the Making A Difference Christian Radio Show.