See the Light, Be the Light

We have a spotlight on the side of our house. It was installed before we moved in and I believe it runs on solar energy because I’ve never found the switch to turn it off. It is incredibly bright and lights up a good portion of the woods - and I hated it. I asked my husband, on several occasions, to either take it down or disconnect it somehow. Just turn it off! When I go out at night I want to enjoy the stars or my fire pit and not be blinded by this ridiculous spotlight that I can’t control.

However, I had a realization recently. You see, we keep chickens and last summer we planted gardens. We started both with some trepidation - our neighbors have had issues keeping both alive. Predators would regularly come and feast on their chickens and had to install tall fences around their gardens to keep the deer and rabbits from helping themselves to their vegetables and flowers. Yet we have had no issues. Why, I wondered. 

One night as I was closing up our hens I realized that both our coop and garden beds fell within the range of that spotlight. They were illuminated all throughout the night. Perhaps the light was what kept the predators and scavengers at bay, allowing the life and abundance we cared for to remain lively and abundant.

Scripture is awash with word pictures and statements concerning light. One of my favorites comes from the beautiful opening verses of John: “In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it (1:4-5).” 

Jesus, the Word, being God, is the source of all life and light;  it can only come from Him. He expels the darkness, our own spiritual ignorance and sin as well as opposition from the enemy. And the Bible promises us that darkness can not overcome Him. We, you and I, dwelt in darkness until the light of our wonderful Savior shined in our hearts and minds through the work of the Holy Spirit, giving us life. But He doesn’t only give us life, He also continually gives us light. He enables us to participate in His divine nature, making us holy bit by bit, the fact of which just blows my mind. Like my spotlight, the Light protects us but it also allows life to flourish and grow. When we live within the light of Christ, we slowly become the light of Christ, sanctified by His nature in us. 

Now sometimes that process of becoming light, becoming holy, is uncomfortable, not quite what we want. I wanted to enjoy the stars and my fire in the darkness, not realizing that the light was what allowed my chickens and plants to continue to grow. If we want to live abundantly as the light of Christ, we must willingly allow the light to continue its work - the hard work of sanctification. We must not put it out, or stifle it.  

This week, as you reach for your Bible, stop and pray for a moment. Invite Jesus to do His work. Ask Him to shine a light into the deep corners of your heart and dispel the darkness that lurks within and without. If it feels uncomfortable, lean into it and watch Him shine brightly through you, providing abundant life and growth to you and those around you.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden…in the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven.” Matthew 5:14,16 (NIV)

About the Author

Hi, my name is Jess Ridgeway. I live in almost Heaven West Virginia with my husband and our two toddlers, Simon and Eliza. Besides chasing children, I enjoy reading, sitting outside in the sunshine, and drinking hot coffee. I am so amazed and grateful for the way God has and continues to change my life through his Word. The Bible is alive and active and I just want to shout from the rooftops, "read your Bible!" My desire is to see women excited to dig into the Word, getting to know their Lord and Savior in new and deeper ways.