I want to begin with a word of encouragement. God’s light is the evidence of His active Kingdom within our being and it may appear to be having little to no effect on the darkness in the world around us, but that is an illusion. We are children of light and light is the fruit of our being. Also God is the source of our being and His Kingdom shines out from within us. The only thing that restricts the work of God’s light shining through us, is us.
My pre-question is, if we shine a flashlight down a dark well how far will the light shine? From our human point of view, our perception is only as good as we are able to detect the reflection of light returning to our eyes. But from lights point of view each photon will continue from its source unless there is something to reflect it from its path. We humans say light is absorbed if there is nothing to reflect it back so we can detect it. But is that true?
So when we judge the evidence of our light which is actually the light of the Presence of God that is within, are we detecting the reflections from a human point of view or are we measuring lights effects from lights point of view? These two points of view is the difference between a spiritual and a material (religious) perspective. Without this understanding bible interpretation can become subjective to the culture (point of view) reading the scripture. As children and ambassadors of God we need to view His light from His point of view.
John 1:5 (NKJV) And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
John 1:5 (NLT) The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
It should be seen from both of these translations and interpretations above that there are two points of view. One is from the reader who is observing the light leave the source and the effect it is having on darkness. The other point of view is from light itself which understands that darkness has no effect on it. At the moment that darkness encounters light darkness is transformed into light and darkness exist no more. Also another property of light is that it is impossible to separate it from it source. The light in you is God.
At first glance from our human material point of view it would seem that darkness has a power equal to that of light but that is not true. Even traditional scriptural interpretation tends to agree with that misunderstanding. If you happen to be open to prophetic words by our contemporary brothers and sisters some of them also confirm this misunderstanding of reality.
Even the scientist of today interpret their observations by concluding that black holes, dark matter and the like have a power that even light cannot overcome. The current scientific mindset draws conclusions that a photon is no match for the gravitational pull of a black hole’s darkness. Fear is the fruit of darkness and heaven help anything that becomes trapped within the gravitational effect of a black hole. And yet our universe is expanding 186,000 miles in all directions every second.
My point is not to review the theories of emission and absorption as it relates to photons but to encourage us to add a different perspective in how we view reality and the kingdom of Light (God). Religion in my opinion is allowing fear to influence its world view by supporting an apocalyptic point of view that is focusing on the terrible (darkness) and ignoring the great (light) things that can and will happen in our future.
In our personal lives of transformation we must acknowledge that we do not walk in perfect love (light) and therefore fear is a possible response to our perception of reality. Is the sun rising or is it setting in our understanding of scripture? Are we the last generation of Christians on earth or will our great-grandchildren get a chance to advance beyond our level of faith. More important have our spiritual communities reached their high water mark of faith and do we still think it possible for every member of our community to become like Jesus before we each individually give up the ghost? (Luke 6:40)
Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT) “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
2 Corinthians 4:6-7 (NLT) For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.
For example if your car has ever broken down and you have been alone and stopped on a dark wooded road at night with your headlights on you will experience this illusion. The illusion is that darkness is swallowing the light and this experience creates the misunderstanding and belief that if we had a greater source of light the edge of darkness and fear would move away from us to a greater distance. The true reality is that if we could move out to the point of light it would be just as bright and the comfort and peace we experience next to the car would be just as true. In fact, if we were on a hilltop lost in the woods ten miles away and saw the light from the headlights however faint, peace, comfort and hope would flood in even thought we are still ten miles away. Standing alone next to the car we could mark at twenty feet where the light dims our fear begins to rise. However from the point of view of a lost person ten miles away that same mark twenty feet away from the car the place as where their hope is at maximum and fear ends.
The same is true when we are standing in our stained glass buildings on Sunday morning. During our times of worship we take comfort from the light of our Father’s Presence and we look at the world outside the door of our sanctuary as a scary place. But from the other point of view many of the estranged men and women driving by our buildings of stained glass see our glimmer of light that we hide all week and say if I can just make it 10 more miles I will be safe.
Our mission is simply to bring light to the lost. But it is only from lights point of view (Kingdom of God) will we ever be able to truly judge the impact that one photon can have as it penetrates the consciousness of a person who by all appearances just seems to crush the life out of every spark that escapes the source within us. We can hide the light if we choose, but we should know that it is the only hope for a world that cannot believe that they too are children of Light.
John 6:63 (NLT) The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
2 Peter 1:19 (NLT) Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts.
Isaiah 55:11 (NKJV) So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
John 1:4-5 (NLT) The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
EVidence LOCKER 