It Is Dark Out, So Turn on Your Lights

Late one night Beverley and I were leaving a Gospel Meeting in Pensacola to spend the night with Johnny and Karen Hooks. They were good friends from Florida College and now worked with a church in Alabama. While still inside the city on a well lit street, I notice a police car pull up beside me. Then he dropped back behind me and turned on his lights to pull me over. He asked me, “Sir, do you know why I pulled you over?” I didn’t have a clue. All I know is that I was not speeding. He informed me that I was driving down the street at night without my headlights. This could not be denied. My eyesight at night has always been so good that I often forget to turn on my headlights. “How could you see to drive?” the officer inquired. “I could see perfectly well to drive” was my answer. His response gave the reason I was to receive a well over-due ticket, “Well, without your headlights on at night other drivers will not be able to see you.”

Ever since that night I have tried to get into the habit of turning on my lights. Although every once in a while I still forget because I can see well enough to drive. However, other people need to see me for us both to drive safely.

As a Christian do we forget to turn on our lights in this dark world of sin? Sure, we may be able to see well enough to know where we are going. Do others see our light so that they can notice our example? After the beatitudes, Jesus told us in the Sermon on the Mount to be lights in this dark world. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).

While you are at it, turn on the light of God’s Word so you know where to go and lead others. David wrote, “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path …The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple. ” (Psalm 119:105,130). Christians must let the light of the Gospel shine so that those lost in the darkness will see our spotlights shining on the Good News and be saved. We exist for this very purpose. “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). Spiritually speaking, light is illustrative of the Glory of God (Psalms 104:2; 1 Timothy 6:16); the Wisdom of God (Daniel 2:22); the Glory of Christ ( Acts 9:3,5; 26:13); the Future glory of saints (Psalms 97:11; Col. 1:12); and the glory of the church (Isaiah 60:1-3). All the more reason for us to shine our lights.

If we fail to shine our lights in this dark world several thing will happen. We will lose our way. The lost will not come to the Light and be saved. On Judgment Day God will sentence us to outer darkness for not turning on our lights in the darkness of this world.

– Daniel R. Vess

2020-06-22 - The Stay in Place - Weekday Touch Base #56
2020-06-24 - The Stay in Place - Weekday Touch Base #58
Categories: The Forum