My brother (age 82!) was here to hunt again this year so we hiked about 40 miles over the six days in some pretty cold weather. The temperatures started out at about 5 degrees each morning and reached 25-26 for highs. It hasn’t been above freezing now for more than a week. But, what beauty the cold created on the landscape. The trees, shrubs and grass were thick with frost and ice crystals formed in the air, making it look like it was snowing out of clear blue skies. As the sun came up, its rays reflected off the frost and the ice crystals in the air making them look like millions of diamonds. It was so beautiful. And there was such a contrast between the shady and sunny areas. It remained quite cold and dreary in the shade, but the sun not only made everything beautiful, but warmed our cold bodies as well. I couldn’t help but think about C. S. Lewis’ Land of Narnia where it was “always winter, but never Christmas.” That’s what our world would be like if Jesus, the “Light of the World” hadn’t come to visit this planet. We wouldn’t know what the “warmth” of the Son would be like. And we wouldn’t see the beauty around us as His wonderful creation.
The ice crystals, without the sun reflecting off of them, were just that, ice crystals, but with the addition of the sun’s rays, they became little mirrors, each reflecting the light from the sun.
An unknown author tells the story of a student who asked his German professor of Greek culture and history, “What is the meaning of life?” To answer the question, Dr. Papaderos took out his wallet and pulled out a very small round mirror the size of a quarter. It was the remains of a broken motor cycle mirror that as a boy he’d found on the road. He had scratched the edges of the piece of mirror on a stone until it became round. He played with it as a toy and was fascinated by the fact that with it he could reflect light into the most inaccessible places where the sun would never shine. It became a game for him to see where all he could reflect the light from the sun. As he grew into manhood, he understood that this was not just a child’s game, but a lesson for him for what he could do with his life. He came to understand that he was not the light or the source of light, but that light—truth, understanding, knowledge—is there and it would only shine in many dark places if he reflected it. Dr Papaderos then took his “little reflector” and, holding it carefully, caught the bright rays of daylight streaming through the window and reflected them onto the student’s face. (Story taken from God’s Children, Nov. 8, 2014, by Richard Evans).
The Apostle John wrote regarding the Word (Christ), “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend (overcome/extinguish) it” (Jn. 1:1-5). God sent a man by the name of John (not the Apostle) to introduce this “Word” to the world. “He came for a witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came that he might bear witness of the light. There was the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man” (vv. 7-9). John (the Baptizer…as we know him) was not the light source, but was to “bear witness of the light,” that is, he was to reflect light from the “true light” (Jesus Christ). When John’s followers grew jealous over the many who were starting to follow Jesus, John told them, “A man can receive nothing, unless it has been given him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but ‘I have been sent before Him.’…He must increase, but I must decrease.” (Jn. 3:27-30).
Our responsibility, as believers, is much like that of John the Baptizer. We are to introduce Christ to the world of people around us. We are to reflect the light of His love and forgiveness and mercy and compassion. And just as was true of John, we are not the light, but we are to “bear witness of the light.” And, since we are living on this side of the Cross and of the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came to indwell believers, we actually have the light source, Jesus Christ, living in us through the Holy Spirit. As we abide in Him (Christ) and allow the Holy Spirit to be in control of our life, we will reflect Christ, the “light of the world” (Jn. 8:12) into the darkness of this world. In His sermon on the mount, Jesus told His disciples: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden (You will be watched!). Nor do men light a lamp, and put it under the peck-measure, but on the lampstand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Mt. 5:14-16).
If we are going to be “little reflectors” of the “true light,” we must be letting His light shine in our hearts first; that is, we must first be walking in the light of His love. It’s only as the light is shining that the ice crystals, the little mirrors, will reflect the suns rays. We are called to be faithful and obedient, growing deep within the core of our being in an intimate relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Then that light will be reflected to our family, friends, neighbors, and everyone with whom we have contact. It will shine into the darkest corners and crevices and the darkness won’t be able to overcome it or extinguish it. What kind of “little reflector” are you?
Forever His,
Pastor Dave
God doesn’t place His lighthouse on some distant shore. He places it within you. It’s a light that never dims or flickers—penetrating the deepest part of your heart with truth, love, and life.
Wisdom of The Week 