7/9/2023

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READING:

“But I saw no temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it because the glory of God illuminates the city and the Lamb is its lamp. By its light the nations will walk and into it the kings of the earth will bring their glory. Its gates will never be shut at the end of the day, because there will be no night there.”

(Revelation 21. 22-25)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

Jesus taught, “A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor does one light a lamp and then hide it away under a basket. In this way, you are made the light of the world to shine on all the earth so that it may see the good which God is doing.” (Matthew 5.14f) Why is it that “we” need light anyway? We define and confine the darkness with it. We illumine the dark places of the world by it. We draw attention to something with highlights in order promote that very thing. We use it to provide a source of comfort, ease and safety when things seem to be darkening around us. It is the purpose of the people of God to “let your light so shine among all people.” But, the true light is not something people create. True light existed before people were created and born into the world. It eminates from inside us born from the source of it which establishes us as a living being. Before God breathed His breath into Adam and Eve and brought them from lifelessness to life, they were “in the dark.” Consider what happened when they succumbed to the temptation of “being your own light.” When they recognized the “something different” about themselves, they hid themselves. We can most certainly relate that to the teaching of Jesus that “a light was not intended to be hidden.” What good is a light if it is hidden? John recorded a teaching of Jesus which says “Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.” (John 3.20) Now, here in Revelation 21, we are presented with a day that has “no night” in it. It is the perfect day of the Lord where the deeds and the purposes of God are in full view. Nothing is hidden. Nothing is secret. There is no confusion or doubt or fear. Imagine living in a place where there is no need to lock your car, your door or your heart. That place is where the Word of God dwells in fullness.

We are given a glimpse of it in John’s gospel introduction, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was life and that life was the light of all people.” That Word and that Life was, of course, Jesus the Christ. His life was and is the light of revelation which the darkness cannot consume. Try as the Enemy might, the Word and the Life which God reveals is not a consummable. The apostle Paul would write, “Death is swallowed up in victory which is ours in Jesus Christ our Lord.” How we have allowed our perception to be twisted backward! How often have we looked at the world around us and thought we are surrounded by darkness. How can we be surrounded by darkness and not also consider then that we will be swallowed up by it? It is the light of life, God’s Word, which is swallowing up the darkness. Hear Peter preach, “Rebuke the Devil and he will flee.” The darkness has no authentic life because it has no authentic light. There is only death in darkness unless there is the life and light of God’s word! For many of us, as children, we were taught a prayer which said, “Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.” We have been made aware of the true hope which is the light of life. That hope is not disappointing nor disappointed when it is bathed in the light of God’s mercy and grace. What then is the rebuke that Peter speaks of and the victory which Paul declares? Is it not the light of God’s truth which by faith is ours?

Does that not mean, mighty ones of God, that we should then heed the gospel call, “So let your light so shine before all people” preaching, declaring and proclaiming the acceptable day of the Lord? We should be striving to have no “night” within us. We ought to be turning on the light of truth, the gospel of Jesus Christ, instead of hiding it and ourselves away for fear that the darkness will consume us. What is that childhood song of faith saying? “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. I won’t let Satan put it out (and we mimmicked blowing out a candle), I’m gonna let it shine.” If we are, as Christ prayed, to be God’s will on earth as it is in Heaven, then shouldn’t our lives more reflect the life given to us as promised in Heaven while we are here on earth? Do we fear the darkness so much that the light of Revelation is seen and heard and presented as “a lie”? Why do we gaze for the future when Jesus declared “The kingdom of God is in you, in the midst of you”? We should not be looking out for the world. The world should be looking out for us. We have been given a mighty voice, a mighty word, a mighty light and a mighty life. We must present the truth as David did, “The Lord is with me [read “within me”]; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” (Psalm 118.6) We must present the truth as Paul did, “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us [read “within us”], who can be against us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8.31-33) We must because we believe in the word given to John for our benefit about how it shall all be when the Groom comes for His Bride, the Church and all her members. That word says, “Its gates will never be shut at the end of the day, because there will be no night there.” (Revelation 21.25)

Turn on the light! Keep your lamps well tended! Do not hide yourselves in fear but stand firm in the faith and in the face of God! Be ready for the Bridegroom comes and all things will be made new! Hallelujah. AMEN.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY:

You are our God and we shall be Your people in spirit and in truth. Continue to dwell among us. Let the revelation by Your Holy Spirit inspire us to greater service in a more refined identity. We do not live as ourselves for ourselves. Rather, we live in Christ as He lives in us. We declare it with all the elders and angels in Heaven, saying “Holy, holy, holy is He who was and is and is to come.” In Jesus’ name we live, serve and pray. AMEN.