Shine!

Matthew 5:14
Webster's dictionary defines light as a form of radiant energy. In its technical sense, light is electromagnetic energy, and consists of both particles (photons) and energy waves. Color on the other hand is the product of electromagnetic energy interacting with matter. Pretty pointless information for most people, but before I joined the Army most of my jobs required that I had a good understanding of how light, color, and matter related to one another. Another pointless bit of trivia is that light does not exist without a recipient. In other words if no one is there to see it, it's nothing more than electromagnetic energy (I can already hear the arguments brewing). Why am I sharing this? Good question. To be perfectly honest I don't know why I share half the things I share, but onward we go. What makes light different from almost anything else is that it only has one purpose. That is to benefit others. Nothing that light does comes back to benefit the source. Instead it takes away from the source and travels forward, giving sight or energy to everything it comes into contact with.

When I was 18 years old my cousin Christine gave me a book entitled "Be all you can be" by John Maxwell (I still have this book). Looking back I can't remember why she gave me the book, but I do remember spending every chance I had reading it. His writing inspired me and gave me hope. Since then I have become an avid fan of John Maxwell's writings and have read a number of his books. Currently I am reading "Developing the leader within you". In it he tells a story of a lighthouse worker and his oil. The story reads "A lighthouse worker who worked on a rocky stretch of coastline received his new supply of oil once a month to keep the light burning. Not being far from shore, he had frequent guests. One night a woman from the village begged some oil to keep her family warm. Another time a father asked for some to use in his lamp. Another needed some to lubricate a wheel. Since all the requests seemed legitimate, the lighthouse keeper tried to please everyone and grant the requests of all. Toward the end of the month he noticed the supply of oil was very low. Soon it was gone, and the beacon went out. That night several ships were wrecked and lives were lost. When the authorities investigated, the man was very repentant. To his excuses and pleading their reply was, 'You were given oil for one purpose – to keep the light burning!'" John Maxwell's point for the story was to show that sometimes you need to put aside a good cause for a better cause (rather the right cause). However I saw the story as an example of Matthew 5:14 where Jesus said, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill can not be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven." God has given us oil as well, and for one purpose only; to be lights in a dark world. It is declared in proverbs "But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines brighter and brighter until the full day (Prov. 4:18)", and Paul wrote to the Philippian believers "That you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world (Phil. 2:15)". Our good deeds shine as lights in contrast to the dark deeds of a perverse generation, and this brings praise and glory to our father in heaven.

Now let's talk about light again. Light travels at 186,000 miles per second. The distance between earth and the nearest star is 25,471,539,687,558 miles (more pointless trivia). The distance to the furthest star has far too many numbers to list. This means that the light from the stars that fill the night time sky began their journey anywhere from 4.33 years to billions of years ago. Yet their light continues to shine unimpeded through the darkened void of space, as if to defiantly scream "I will not rest, for my work is not yet done!" This is the nature of light. It does not cease, rather continues its journey ad infinitum. Almost 18 years ago my cousin gave me a book. A simple gift from the abundance of her oil. The light of which has traveled through my darkened void ever since, and in doing so has brought great praise and glory to God. Today I am the better for it. Her light, like so many other lights, shined and continues to shine without end. Light has but one purpose; to benefit others with its energy and illumination. It pierces through the darkness with an authority that can not be denied or hindered, and exposes everything that finds its harbor in the most hidden recesses of our soul. It does not ask permission, nor wait for welcome before casting it's brilliance into the present darkness. Rather, it shines and everything within its illumination either reaps the benefit, or pays the price when it is torn from its hiding place. Likewise, we have been given oil for one purpose, to be lights in a crooked and perverse generation. Therefore, be lights in such a way as to SHINE with unparalleled authority, in order that, through the years, those who find themselves in the warmth of your glow will benefit; bringing praise and glory to God our father. Again I say SHINE!  [mp]

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Michael D'Urbano
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