The power of light

I heard something in church today. “Good”, you might say. “That's what is supposed to happen.”

True, but this was one of those 'moments'. You know, a flash of inspiration that you can only credit to the Holy Spirit bringing something to life.

Here's what was happening. We were singing Graham Kendrick's 'Shine, Jesus Shine'.

Lord, the light of your love is shining
In the midst of the darkness, shining
Jesus, Light of the world, shine upon us
Set us free by the truth you now bring us
Shine on me, shine on me

Shine, Jesus, shine
Fill this land with the Father's glory
Blaze, Spirit, blaze
Set our hearts on fire
Flow, river, flow
Flood the nations with grace and mercy
Send forth your word
Lord, and let there be light

Lord, I come to your awesome presence
From the shadows into your radiance
By the blood I may enter your brightness
Search me, try me, consume all my darkness
Shine on me, shine on me

As we gaze on your kingly brightness
So our faces display your likeness
Ever changing from glory to glory
Mirrored here may our lives tell your story
Shine on me, shine on me

Graham Kendrick
Copyright © 1987 Make Way Music,

Here's the flash of inspiration: We all have areas of darkness within us. Things that aren't what they are supposed to be. We know it will take God to change us, cause we aren't having a lot of luck on our own!

Here are the phrases that caught my heart--”consume all my darkness
Shine on me”.

The way that the darkness is dispelled is by shining the Light. Simple? Profound?

Sometimes I make it seem so complicated, like a 4 year university program. Really, darkness leaves when the light shines. It's elementary physics. You don't have to chase out the darkness—corner it, subdue it, tie it up. No, since darkness is merely the absence of light, when light arrives, darkness is gone. Presto chango.

I know there are powers of darkness, spiritual forces of wickedness, and so on. I recognize that, and I'm not saying the enemy just disappears our of the universe when the light comes. But.... When God shines His light in, there it is. His light. In us. You aren't stumbling around, tripping over things you can't see, because now everything is visible. Light shows you where the furniture is, so you don't stub your toe on the corner of the coffee table. Light reveals where the top step is, so you don't fall down the stairs. Light shows you the garbage you chucked in the corner, so now you can actually throw it out. Light points out where the wall ends and the doorway begins, so you can leave.

Light is a wonderful thing. It's not even creating new things, just revealing what has been there all along.

Lord, I come to your awesome presence
From the shadows into your radiance
By the blood I may enter your brightness
Search me, try me, consume all my darkness
Shine on me, shine on me

Shine, Jesus, shine
Fill this land with the Father's glory
Blaze, Spirit, blaze
Set our hearts on fire
Flow, river, flow
Flood the nations with grace and mercy
Send forth your word
Lord, and let there be light.

Thank you Lord for sending the Light into the world. To show us the way to You. To set us free from us.

Shine, Jesus Shine.