For the Lord God is a sin and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor.(Psalm 84:11)

Our waiting on God can have no higher object than simply having His light shine on us, and through us, all the day.

God is Light. God is a Sun. Paul says, “God…..hath shined in our hearts, to give light.” What light? “The light of the…..glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

( 2 Corinthians 4:6) Just as the sun shines its beautiful, life-giving light on and into the earth, so God shines into our hearts the light of His glory, of His love, in Christ His Son.

Our heart is meant to have that light filling and gladdening it all the day, because God is our sun and it is written, “Thy sun shall no more go down” (Isaiah 60:20) God’s love shines on us without ceasing.

But can we indeed enjoy it all the day? We can. How? Let nature give us the answer. Those beautiful trees and flowers and green grass- what do they do to keep the sun shining on them? They do nothing; they simply bask in the sunshine when it comes. The sun is millions of miles away but over all that distance it comes, it’s own light and joy; and the tiniest flower that lifts its head upward is met by the same exuberance of light and blessing as flood the widest landscape.

What the trees and flowers do unconsciously is to be with us a voluntary and a loving acceptance. Faith, simple faith in God’s word and love, is to be the opening of the eyes, the opening of the heart, to receive and enjoy the unspeakable glory of His grace.

It is the very highest exercise of our Christian life just to abide in the light of God, and let it, and let Him, fill us with life and the brightness it brings.

Andrew Murray

Revelation tells us that in the city of New Jerusalem, there will never be night for the Lamb is the light.

“I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty [the Omnipotent, the Ruler of all] and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of the sun nor of the moon to give light to it, for the glory (splendor, radiance) of God has illumined it, and the Lamb is its lamp and light. The nations [the redeemed people from the earth] will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring into it their glory. By day ( for there will be no night there ) its gates will never be closed [in fear of evil]; and they will bring the glory (splendor, majesty) and the honor of the nations into it; There will no longer exist anything that is cursed [because sin and illness and death are gone]; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve and worship Him [with great awe and joy and loving devotion]; they will [be privileged to] see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. And there will no longer be night; they have no need for lamplight or sunlight, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign [as kings] forever and ever.”

Revelation 21:22-26,22:3-5

On that day we will be fully without limits in the presence of God. Gone will be the earthly restraints of our sin nature, earthly bodies and distracting surroundings. We will be able to be fully aware and to fully know Christ. What a day, glorious day that will be.

For now the apostle Paul tells us that “we see through a glass darkly” glimpses of the love and grace of God and those glimpses that shine in our hearts illuminate our path as we follow Christ.

Isaiah tells us that our world needs the light of God even as life needs the sun to thrive.

“The people who walk in [spiritual] darkness Will see a great Light; Those who live in the dark land, The Light will shine on them.”

Isaiah 9:2

This passage is quoted in both Matthew and Luke in reference to Christ.

“Now when Jesus heard that John [the Baptist] had been arrested and put in prison, He left for Galilee. And leaving Nazareth, He went and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the country of Zebulun and Naphtali. “ The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee [in the district] of the Gentiles — “ The people who were sitting (living) in [spiritual] darkness have seen a great Light, And for those who were sitting (living) in the land and shadow of [spiritual and moral] death , Upon them a Light has dawned .” From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance; seek God’s purpose for your life], for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Matthew 4:12-13,15-17

“Prompted by the Spirit, he came into the temple [enclosure]; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for Him the custom required by the Law, Simeon took Him into his arms, and blessed and praised and thanked God, and said, “Now, Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to leave [this world] in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your Salvation, Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, A Light for revelation to the Gentiles [to disclose what was previously unknown], And [to bring] the praise and honor and glory of Your people Israel.”

Luke 2:27-32

In nature trees seek the sun and they will bend toward it and their branches will grow longer toward the light. I’ve noticed with my driveway that the trees always follow the sun. It’s an automatic response, for the trees need the sunlight in order to flourish. This should be so in the heart of every human and indeed is is so by God’s design. I’ve noticed that trees will push their branches around anything blocking their view of the sun. They will bend and grow pushing toward the light. We as the people of God ought to be the same.

Satan moves and operates in darkness, darkness of the soul and mind. Have you noticed that trouble and worry seem to escalate at night? It’s as though the tormented chooses the dark to wreck our faith and steal our joy. Have you noticed that during long days of clouds and rain that people tend to get depressed? Just as the sunless days effect us so also do the Sonless days. This is why Jesus told us that as He is the light of the world, we should be the light to the world.

In these dark days of confusion, despair and hopelessness let us charge our spiritual batteries in the presence of the Son and then let us shine our lights into the darkness. How? Speak encouragement and hope to those around you. It’s easy to fall into the complaining, fearful and thankless attitude. Choose to seek the joy of the Lord by spending time in His presence. Choose to count your blessings instead of listing your needs. Choose to give away a smile, a kind word, or an act of kindness. Choose to trust God with what’s beyond your capacity. Choose love and laughter. Let your little light shine. It doesn’t take much for a single match in a dark room dispels the darkness. Think of that, a tiny single match can conquer the great darkness of the night. Perhaps our tiny lights of Christ in us can conquer the darkness around us.

Dr. John Thompson