IN THE LIGHT OF SIGHT

Light might give one an easier chance to see than in the darkness, but one can see on a clear bright day and not truly have sight. The light that casts its influence into the soul is of a different nature than the one that shows us the obvious.

In the scriptures the Lord is called the Light of Life, which has multiple meanings. He grants the type of sight to see what is universally true and also deeper spiritual truths. Those lacking the power of the Holy Spirit will not always be able to appreciate such light.

What is interesting to me is how often I've know people who were faithful church goers and claimed to be followers of the Lord, but they didn't have a clue as to anything that was truly spiritual. Essentially there sight was blurry at best when you are talking about on the spiritual level. It was compounded by pride so you could never expect them to accept that time spent pew sitting did earn them any real spiritual maturity.

For myself I have found the issue of light and sight to at times be frustrating. God has endowed me with certain gifts of insight that I might serve him. It isn't me that is special nor did I do anything to earn such a calling. It was just a matter of God's choice.

And I never regard being called in such a way as a position of privilege. Nor do I look upon it and feel it is a form of power that I have a right to use for my own gain.

Instead, I have been humbled enough in my life I think that I simply try to be obedient when God lays it on my heart to share some light with another. It is enough to have passed it on. I don't need praise or reward. At least that is my feeling.

Yet when you deal with others who are not so called they often seem to react by presuming your desire is to threaten whatever power they have in a church. They will smile and pretend to be friendly, but the whole time they plot behind your back.

Such is the nature of those who are more inclined towards serving the Lord on their terms rather than by faith. They apply their values to your actions and naturally get defensive in the process.

I am grateful that God in his mercy opened doors for me in places where I could share what I felt he wanted me to share without having to tolerate the politics of religiosity. That for me has truly been a blessed.

Admittedly following such a path is something other than a trail that is popular. It is one often traveled alone in the eyes of others. But the good news is that the Lord is there and sometimes that is more comforted and joyful than any other source of companionship.

So I plod along the paths set before me. Not in the limelight and I doubt in the eyes of the world it will matter. However, with the Lord his light will always give more joy than the darkness some think is light.