Turn on the Light
... God called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. ~ 1 PETER 2:9 (TLB)
Like many of you, I am getting excited as the days are getting longer. Daily we see increasing amounts of light. Light is a wonderful creation of God and one that is important for our happiness and survival. Without light to guide us, we can have many difficulties and challenges.
Lent reminds us that there are many dark corners in our world and perhaps in our own lives. On a spiritual level, Lent invites us to “open the curtains” and allow the light of God to show us areas of our spiritual life that need to be addressed. In the darkness we can’t see the dust and dirt, but when the light is shining, we have a completely different picture and the opportunity to make things clean again.
Scripture reminds us that Jesus is the Light (John 8:12). He came into the world not to condemn but to bring life (John 3:16-17). When those dark private corners of our lives are exposed, spiritual cleaning can take place. The Light helps us realize everything may not be as neat and tidy as we thought. It offers us the opportunity to stop pretending all is good and to make our “spiritual houses” clean.
Our faith reminds us that we matter too much to God for Him to ignore the dirt. This is why God offers us the Light that reveals the dirt and dust in our lives. He also uses the Light to clean it away. The prophet Isaiah anticipated this when he wrote, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18a). The simple message of the Gospel is this: Jesus died on the cross so that we could be made new and clean.
The Lenten season is a time for preparation and for reflection. Christ wants to clean the dirt and dust hidden away in every corner of our lives so we may serve Him fully and freely. Once our spiritual house is clean, we are free to enjoy the “abundant life” Jesus promised (John 10:10) and to become all that God has called us to be! Let’s turn on the light and receive God’s cleansing grace.
God of light and love, we ask that you would shed your holy light into our lives, allowing us to see those areas that need a spiritual cleaning. Shine your light on the paths of our lives that we may continue our journey, reflecting your light for all to see. In the name of the One we call the Light of the World, amen.
PASTOR JAMES BOLTON, PITMAN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH