Recently I was in my garage on a mission to find Christmas lights in a vast accumulation of storage totes. The totes were labeled but not specifically for Christmas lights, so a-hunting-we-will-go. I was moving quickly with my search until I came to one large heavy tote. This particular tote was nestled too tightly to open the lid, so I pulled it out just enough to pop open the lid a few inches. But to no avail, there was still not enough light, so I used a flashlight to peer inside. Then a thought bonked my brain. How does my Light for Christ shine to others?
You see, I was the hard to open tote. We are to be the Light of Christ for others to see, but is the Light of Christ that is in me visible to everyone? Or does my light only shine when I am around other Christians (like the flashlight shining into the tote) because their Light of Christ shines brightly, making it easier for my Light to shine? If in fact my Light only shines when I am around like-minded followers of Christ, then I have failed miserably for those whom the Light truly needs to shine. That was an eye opener.
Continuing with this aspect of the large tote, this tote was filthy on the outside, but the inside was clean, leaning to the notion of our Salvation through Jesus Christ. The Lord looks at our heart, our motives for the things we do. Are my motives pure and in line with the Lord?
This tote also gives thought that while on earth we will have suffering, but when we have Jesus, our hope is in the Lord. We have the Armor of God to protect us. Thank you, Father, for protecting us and giving us your Word to stand firm upon.
In order to see what is inside the tote, the tote had to be opened up. As a follower of Christ, I must open my heart and mind in order for the Holy Spirit to do His work in me and through me. The Fruit of The Spirit in me can only be exposed when the lid is off. If I keep the lid on, no one can see the goodness of the Lord. I cannot share love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness. gentleness, and self-control if I am closed up and closed off from the world. Therefore, I must continually renew my mind in order for my Light to shine brightly.
Jesus came to earth to defeat darkness. There can be no darkness if there is light, as proven by my hunt for Christmas lights in the totes. When the darkness was exposed in the large tote, the truth of what was inside was revealed. This tote experience will forever be ingrained in my head, and now it is up to me to reflect that experience in my actions. I encourage you to keep your lid off so others can see the Light of Christ in you and through you.
To God be the Glory!
