HIS LIGHT OR OUR SHADOW?

Shadows may be beneficial when it comes to avoiding the hot sunshine on a summer’s day, but metaphoric shadows can cause grief when we use them as hiding places for our soul. God’s pure light brings healing and wholeness to every circumstance, feeling, and difficulty we face.

ETERNAL PERSPECTIVES             by Sally Bair

Light and shadow

I recently saw a picture of a lit match and was told it has no shadow. I don’t understand much about light and shadow. I do remember learning that light travels in a straight line and can allow one object to hide another, such as a vehicle parked between our vision and a jogger’s safety lamp, preventing us from seeing the light source. I’ve also learned that light can be reflected.

These truths about light remind me of biblical truths about God. Probably the most familiar is about God’s creation. “Then God said, let there be light; and there was light. And God saw the light that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning was the first day.” (Genesis 1:3-5)

No wonder, then, that God’s Son, Jesus Christ, was called “… the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.” (John 1:9)  John writes another fact about Jesus. “… God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5)

In terms of our spirituality, what does all this mean? We can find several comparisons and differences between earthly light and Godly light. Like truth, which always walks a straight line, God’s light is straight as a plumb line. It never deviates. We may try to hide our fear, guilt, anger or any other sin behind an object or in its shadow where we can’t see His light. But our sin is always there. Through faith and Holy Spirit power, we can step outside the shadow and see His light of truth, love and forgiveness.

Besides finding wholeness in the presence of His Light, He will cause us to reflect His very light so others can also enjoy it. And His energy-filled Light will be transferred to us. In body, soul and spirit we can be transformed into a powerful source of light. “You are the light of the world,” Jesus told us as He spoke to multitudes on a high hill by the Sea of Galilee. (See Matthew 5:14) God promised to “make darkness light for [the blind].” (Isaiah 42:16)

Heavenly Father, thank You for Jesus, whose Light shone—even in the shadowy darkness of a stable—bright enough to give us life. Cause us to reflect Your light with Godly energy so others will also be drawn to You during this holy season and ever after. In Jesus’ name, amen.