MY NAMES NOT JACK
When you look at the picture above, what is the first thing you see? Last month, I was blessed to be a vendor at a lady’s event in an arena. I was so happy to be closer to the front door area and by a couple of the speakers. Got my booth sat up and sent pictures to my son and several others. My son called me and asked me if I knew what that big sign behind me was advertising. I had thought that maybe it was advertising an alcoholic beverage and he confirmed. I tried to put a trash bag over the sign but it kept falling down. Then, I realized that was not the only sign in the arena. Alcoholic signs were everywhere! Arenas are usually used for events that have nothing to do with religious events. That is the way of the world. No matter what, we cannot get away from the world.
There are some religious groups who isolate themselves from the world and do not let the world enter into their group. They try to separate themselves from the reality of what the world holds. They are kind compassionate people but because of their isolating from the world, they do not have the availability to share their beliefs with the world. I hold nothing against their views, after all they are trying to keep their families safe and away from the sinfulness of the world. But is that what God wants us to do?
This sign got me thinking. Isn’t it true that we are to live in the world but do not become a part of the world? Let’s look at a couple of scriptures.
Matthew 5:16 reads “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in heaven.”
In Colossians 1:9-14, Paul tells the Colossians brethren that he had been praying for them. It reads “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, that you might walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God, strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy, giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”
Just one more verse. John 1:3-5 reads “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”
Let’s think about a few things after reading those scriptures. What does there have to be in order to show light? Darkness! Several years ago, my husband, daughter and I were on a tram ride through a beautiful cave. At a certain point, they turned out all the lights. Fear gripped my heart! Total and complete darkness! Have you ever been in a situation where it was pitch dark, when you could not even see your hand in front of your face? In our tour of the cave, it seemed like hours before the guide spoke, but it was actually only a few seconds. He lit a candle. Where did everyone’s eyes go to? To that light of course! I felt a sense of peace, taking away that fear of the darkness. In order for us to be seen we have to be in the world. We have to take action to shine our light for others to see. We have to work and be amongst those who are in the middle of darkness of this world. We have to go to the store and shine our lights, when someone, in front of us, does not have enough money to pay for the few items they have in their basket. Do you pretend you do not notice? We all have to drive with those around us, who are cutting us off in traffic. What do you say or show?
In any of the struggles you are or have faced, how are you letting your light shine, even in the middle of the darkness? There have been several times in my life, that I felt like darkness was surrounding me trying to snuff out my light. When I have dwelt on the things that were going on, it just pulls me even further into the darkness. But when I have taken a deep breath, opened my Bible and read scripture or was just still meditating & praying, God helped me to see His light. Even though it was down a dark tunnel, I could see God’s light shining, pulling myself into its radiance once again. Sometimes, when I step back and do something for someone else, I can refocus on what is truly important and can even find peace and even a solution to my present trial.
In order to be a light for others, we have to keep that light burning. We have to spend time with God in order to get that light from Him. During the pandemic, there are so many things we could not do, but yet we have been able to find ways to shine our lights for the Lord. We have to put action into letting our lights shine to the world. We have to get out amongst the dark world in order for out lights to shine, so that the world will seek us when they are having a hard time. They can be assured that our lights are from God. They will reach out trying to get some of our lights within their dark hearts.
In the New Testament, God shows us that He sent His only Son to the darkness of this world, to be an example for us and to save us. Think about this! Jesus, our greatest example, was sent to this world to seek and save those who were sinning or were afflicted (Luke 19:10) He was around a prostitute-eating with tax collectors and sinners-people who were constantly trying to “trip” Him up with their reasoning and finally succeeded by killing Him on a cross. He was around people with leprosy and others who were needing His healing touch or words. Jesus showed us that the only way to shine our lights to this dark world is to come to people where they are and show them the way of eternal life!
It has been almost two months since I published in my blog. My life has not been my own. I have had tests done. (all is well) I have worked a lot of hours during that time. I cannot physically handle the hours like I could when I was younger. When I get home my mind and body are frazzled. I am blessed to still have my dad. What a blessing he is and has always been in my life! I am very thankful and blessed that I can help him when needed on my days off. What I am getting at with all of that, is I have been busy. But I have to think, and turn back to the thoughts, of what is important in this life. Hopefully I have let my light shine through all the busyness of these last few months. Hopefully I have helped to lighten someone’s load or caused them to realize they are living in the dark and they need to search for the true light that comes from God through us. Hopefully I have made a way for someone else to be blessed.
Those of us in that arena that day, who had a sign behind them advertising alcohol, realized that we needed to let our lights shine. There is just not anything we can do about living in this world. I doubt too many women that were able to be at that event or those who watched virtually, even thought I was advertising for that alcohol brand. The ladies there and watching, were there to learn more about God and be amongst other women to be encouraged by their stories and their lights. When I am there, I feel like that is one of my purposes while here on this earth. I want to be able to share and be an inspiration to women through the struggles I have had and when my light was dim, how God helped me to remember He and His light are always by my side and there really is hope when God is the center of our lives.
Well, I said all of that to say “my name is not Jack!” My identity is in what the Lord calls me. I am His daughter. A daughter of the King! We all must be in this world to be able to shine our lights and guide others to our blessed Lord and Savior! Thank you, God, for giving us the ability to shine Your light to others!
Till next time!
Keela