Light

I love light. I think this is one reason I like my house so much. It is so open and has so much light. Every morning I start opening blinds at the first hint of daylight. I want the morning light to come in.

I do notice something, however, as the light begins to grow and become brighter. I see the dust I missed on the sideboard and on the hardwood floors in the living room. I can clearly see where the paint is nicked on the wall going into the kitchen. As the light shines through my front windows, the smudges become obvious. Light shows the dirt and imperfections and scars.

This is what happens in our spiritual life. The brighter the light of God's truth shines on us, the more we see our sin. The closer we grow to the Light of the World, the more obvious are the dark places of our soul. John 3:19 shows us that evil is uncomfortable (to say the least) with the light and prefers darkness. Ecclesiastes 2:14 tells us that fools walk in darkness while Isaiah 2:5 calls the Israelites and us to "walk in the light of the Lord."

In 1John 1 we learn that "God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." Wow! That is a lot to get our heads around. God's word speaks much of light and darkness. Jesus declared Himself to be the Light of the world and said that "he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness but will have the Light of life."

We must choose light. Matthew tells us that we are the light of the world and we are given the command to let our light "shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." So, as this new day dawns and begins to reveal the dust on my floor and the smudge on my window, I pray for God to shine His light on those places in my heart that need cleaning up so that I might go out to bring glory to Him.

Easter

It's the week of Easter, Holy Week, if you will. I find myself introspective and contemplative. I was studying the 53rd chapter of Isaiah last week and was absolutely amazed that Isaiah accurately predicted the first Holy Week over 700 years before it happened with incredibly specific details. And yet, the Jews, who had Isaiah's prophesies, still didn't believe.

Isaiah vividly described Jesus as one who "was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief". He was "like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers." The verses that get to me the most are 5 and 6."But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray,, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him."

This is the heart of the gospel. Christ was my substitute; He took my place; He stood in my stead. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God Himself." Christ justified me by becoming sin for me. I have the righteousness of God Himself because of what Christ did at Calvary. I deserve the wrath of a holy God because I am a depraved, sinful being. The wages of my sin is death.

However, Romans 8:1 tells me, "There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Isaiah 1:18 says, Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow."

I am overwhelmed.

It is the week of Easter. I am a chosen child of God. I have been justified by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. I am being sanctified daily through the work of the Holy Spirit. I will be glorified when I see my Lord and my Savior face to face. Amen and amen!