Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Arise and Shine

When we used to visit my folks before they went home to the LORD, my mother would say to us "you bring life to us." I remember back when I was a young man in the hospital; my mom and dad would come to be with me every day and when my two older brothers would visit, they brought life and strength to me. When our ministry team brings music and the gospel message twice a week to the rest home services, some of them say to us that we bring life to them. Jesus is our light and the life that brought us the light of God. His presence continues in those he has saved. We are his light in this sin darkened world.


Isa 60:1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.
Isa 60:2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.


This refers to Israel in the Millennium, when the Lord comes in the midst of his chosen people Israel, but the application is for now, to those who have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ. Look around and we see the darkness covering the earth. Sin and shame and fear and despair cover the land, but we are not just from the land, we are made heavenly creations in Christ Jesus, his ambassadors and light bearers.

2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

What then? As ambassadors for Christ, we are not to be hidden in the darkness, but to get up and get out and shine for Jesus. Not only shine in appearance but with the word of life. We are not to be in darkness and gloom, we are to be like Jesus: full of life. He has arisen and his glory will be seen on us for we are in Christ by faith and the giving of his Holy Spirit. As He shined at the Mount of transfiguration, so we shall shine with a holy glow from within. We also are to associate with others of his light, encouraging one another, showing that we are one people of God; the Church of Jesus Christ and the chosen of God.

Mat 17:1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
Mat 17:2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
Mat 17:3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.


The darkness needs the light from Jesus. Those who are of God, will come out of darkness; those who remain, prefer the darkness. Politically correct people of darkness, may persecute those of the light. It is God who makes the laws, not man. Any law that transgresses the law of God is sin and darkness. God is not mocked, for the light shines and that which is true will gladly respond to that light, and not come against it.

John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
John 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
John 3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.


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