Light Part 3
We have a security camera system set up at our home. I have the system set to make a whistling sound to deter anyone or anything that may be snooping around our house in the middle of the night. One of the first nights in our home we were woken up by the whistle sound in the middle night. Tanya and I both shot up with our hearts racing wondering who was in our backyard at 2 AM. We looked out the window and didn’t see anything and figured it must have been a mistake. Then about 30 minutes later we heard it again.
And then again.
And then again.
I finally got up to check the video footage on my phone and realized there wasn’t anyone in our backyard snooping around. What was triggering the alarm system was bugs! I came to find out that the camera had a little light on it and that sliver of light in the dark night shined just enough light to attract the bugs toward the camera thus triggering the system.
For the last two weeks, we have been looking at Jesus’ words from John 8:12 where he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” The idea of a light shining in the dark can be an image that brings peace and comfort, especially to those who are lost in the dark or scared of the dark. But as we learned from our alarm system mishap, the light can also attract things we find to be annoying like bugs.
If Jesus is the light of the world, he will attract all sorts of people to himself, which means he may attract people to himself who we aren’t particularly fond of. He may attract people to himself whom we find to be a nuisance, or he may attract people whom we think are better off staying in the dark. Jesus said WHOEVER follows me… He didn’t say people who look like me, or think like me, or vote like me will follow him. No, he said whoever.
So, who is the whoever in your life? Who is the person in your life that you really wish would just drift off into the darkness of the night and leave you alone? Seriously, be honest about this! I know you have at least a short list of people you’d rather not have around, Lord knows I do. Also, think about this… maybe you are on somebody’s whoever list! Lord knows I am!
When we are honest with ourselves and with God about the whoevers in our lives we are creating space for Jesus’ light to shine into those dark hidden places of our souls. We may think we are walking in the light, and we may very well be, but I have a hunch that there are still places where we are still living in the dark.
Over the next few weeks, as the sun goes down earlier, and the lights go on sooner. As you sit around fire pits and enjoy the fall weather, may the bugs that are attracted to the light that is bringing you comfort be a reminder that God’s desire is for all men to see the light of Jesus and be drawn to his perfect love. And remember, you are one of his whoevers.
Grace and peace ‘til we rise in glory.
