IN THE LIGHT

There is a difference between “seeing the light” and understanding it? To be dazzled by some illumination, but not understand its purpose or meaning is to remind blind.

When Jesus was among mankind, he performed miracles. He gave light that it might shine into the heart, produce faith and allow people to lift their eyes towards Heaven see eternity. It was to be a ray of guiding, not life itself.

The gospels are far too graphic in their bluntness about how often people only saw the power of the miracle, but never really saw the light that was shining. They ended up following Christ in hopes of seeing more miracles instead of trying to see what was truly shining.

Not much has changed since then. So many more are attracted to the dazzle of ministries claiming to perform miracles than to those who try to be faithful to heaven’s purer light of truth. It is a simple message about human nature. Not necessarily a good one either.

I am reminded of what our Lord told the Apostle Thomas after the resurrection. He mentioned that Thomas had believed in the resurrection because he had seen Jesus. But that more blessed would be those who had believed without seeing.

Everyone has moments of doubt and uncertainty. There are times when we suffer from the need for assurance. Being in a world overpopulated with those hostile to the Christian message and eager to abuse those who belief doesn’t help.

So I can’t blame those who in the midst of a crisis or heavy burden of a moment of doubt look for some type of affirmation of the Lord’s reality. That is only normal.

However it is a lot different to have that kind of need from it becoming an obsession. How often in the course of week I find myself doing what I know God wants me to know, but there is never any fanfare. I am not rewarded for my labors with any kind of blessing or miracle. There is just the quietness of inner light that keeps me going.

I don’t claim to be special or that I am somehow unique to such an experience. Every day lots of faithful work at their duties without being appreciated or thanked in any way.

But we do grow weary. To which I offer up the simple hope and prayer to stop when that heaviness nearly cripples and close one’s eyes in faith. Allow God’s spirit to shine forth with some insight or renewal of strength that will turn the darkness into the brightness of hope.

It is a small offering unto those who spend too much time in the shadows of obscurity. For God is there too. He sees and such faithfulness will not go unrewarded when we stand in eternity and can see the light perfectly.