Shining in the Darkness

This evening, as the daylight began to dim, my husband looked out at the shed in the backyard where we have a solar light attached to the right of the door and remarked that it hadn't come on yet, though other solar lights in the yard were burning. Looking out a little later though, it had finally begun to shine.

It made me curious to find out how solar lights work.  There's a solar cell that changes the sunlight into direct electrical current.  That cell is the dark panel you see on the top of the light. Without getting into all the technical jargon, the short story is there are layers of negatively-charged electrons and positively-charged spaces in the cell and when the sunlight comes through the cell, it stirs up those negatively-charged electrons and forces them into the positively-charged spaces. This, in turn, transfers the electron stream into a direct current of electricity which is stored in a battery until it is needed.

Later, when there is no sunlight to convert, a photoreceptor senses that it is dark and the light turns on, supplied by the battery which has stored the power. The light will shine as long as there is power in the battery or until the photoreceptor registers that the daylight has returned.

So why am I writing a science blog today?  As usual, God takes the mundane things in life and shows me something that I can apply to my life.  We are like the solar light.  Our spirit is like the solar cell soaking up the sunlight of the glory and love of God which can push the negatives in our lives into positive new places.  This opens us up to the power of the Holy Spirit which we "store" in our hearts and shine on others when His light is needed in their lives. We will have moments in our lives when we will sense that a situation is in darkness and we'll know that it's time to release what God has given to us. Just like the solar light, we can only shine as long as there is power within us, so we should constantly be seeking to be in the beautiful light of His presence so we can stay continually filled.

The Six Commandments ?????

In Mark 10: 17-23 we find the story of the "rich young ruler" who asked Jesus what he needed to do to inherit eternal life. I found something recently in that story that I have never noticed before.  As Jesus answered, He quoted only six of the ten commandments to him.

Jesus said, "You know the commandments:  'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal, 'Do not bear false witness,' 'Do not defraud,' ' Honor your father and your mother.'" (Mark 10:19)

I found many different explanations of this in articles and commentaries. Some I agreed with while others seemed to miss the point altogether.  What really separates these six commandments from the other four is this:  these commandments concern how we treat each other.  Sometimes these are called the "horizontal" commandments.

The other four concern our relationship with God and are sometimes called the "vertical" commandments.

1.  You shall have no other gods before Me.
2.  You shall not worship idols.
3.  You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
4.  Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

I think there are probably many people who keep the last six commandments.  They have chosen to be people of a high moral standard. Even atheists can see the value of treating others well and avoiding criminal behavior.  Most people who have engaged in activities that those first six commandments prohibit have discovered that the natural consequences of these acts are negative, hurtful, and filled with natural punishments here on earth.

The caution I have for the Christian in these comments is one I have to remember myself.  If I continue to live in a moral way, just because it is wiser, I am no different than a moral atheist. It's possible to do good works, treat people with kindness, even attend church, but still neglect my relationship with God. 


At this point in my life, I'm not likely to take up any new vices.  I laid aside the ones I had many years ago when I asked Jesus to forgive me and make me a new creation.  I'm not stupid enough to revisit those choices or make new decisions that would take me into situations where I do not want to find myself.  If I just mechanically obey the rules though, without letting the spirit of God flow through me and give me His life on a daily basis, I open myself up to be influenced and set myself up to begin to compromise.

We have to be careful not to rely on our own "rule-keeping" as our righteousness.  The Bible says that we are "the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus" (2 Corinthians 5:21) because the sinless Jesus became sin for us on the cross.  That's what this Easter week celebrates - that He died to take our sins upon Himself but rose again so that we might have life. Our righteousness is His righteousness.  The way we live is not a way to earn anything from God.  We've been given all we need and it's certainly not what we deserve.  

Relying on obeying those last six commandments and the scores of other unwritten rules that make us think we look the part of a Christian runs the risk of us becoming cold to God and self-reliant.  I think when Jesus quoted those six commandments, he was saying to the young man that He considered the first four to be a "no-brainer".  Loving God to the exclusion of all other things, speaking His name in respect, love, and power, honoring Him on the Sabbath and every day is the basis from where the power to live in true holiness springs.

If it's been a long time since you think you really messed up, think about this:  When is the last time you prayed?  When did you last read God's Word?  Are you relying on a pattern of behavior or are you drawing your very life from your relationship with God?  

Preparation

As I sit typing this blog post tonight, the sky outside my window is blue with fluffy white clouds, yet the weather forecast is calling for thunderstorms with high, damaging winds and hail and a possibility of tornado activity.  If I had no access to modern weather reports, I would never expect any such thing, based on what I see just outside my house.

People are being advised to secure things outside so they won't be blown away.  We are told to be watchful of the conditions so we can move our families to safety if conditions worsen.  We're told that fallen trees could bring down power lines and in some areas near where I live the power is already out.

Personally, I've prepared just as I'm being advised.  In case of a power outage, I'm currently getting the blog ready to submit, doing a load of laundry so I'll have something to wear to work in the morning, and planning to do some computer work related to my job. Dinner has already been prepared and consumed and if there's time before it starts storming, I'll have an early bath.  My entire Sunday afternoon and evening timeline is being determined by just the possibility of something happening.  Maybe it will - maybe it won't.

At the same time, all around me in this world are people who have not made any preparations for the life they will have after this one.  Though they may not believe it, that forecast is a sure thing.  Human beings will prepare for vacation, for retirement, for accidents, for natural disasters - but pay no attention to the condition of their souls and their eternity.

The signs of the times indicate that it won't be long until Jesus returns for His church.  Christians know that prediction is set in stone because God Himself made that forecast.  No, we don't know when, but we do know to be prepared. 

How do we prepare?  It's not just by believing facts.  The enemy himself knows all the facts. It's a knowing and acting upon this truth that shows that our trust is in Jesus.

Every sports fan has seen the scripture reference for John 3:16 - "God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

Jesus also said, "I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live." (John 11:25)

There is your preparation, but it's only the beginning.  When you really believe something with your whole heart, it's not just an intellectual exercise; it's the basis for everything you do and say in life.

Are you prepared?  Do you know who holds your future here on earth and your eternity in heaven?  Are you ready for the storms to come?  I hope that you are.  If you watch and listen, you'll begin to see signs of the times and know that it's time to think about these things. I'm going to sign off for tonight and finish my list of preparations for this natural storm because now I hear the wind beginning to blow . . . . . . . . .

Do They Know?

On the way to church last Sunday, my husband glanced over to his left while he was driving on the interstate and said, "I never knew there was a church over there".  My eyes followed his line of sight and saw the building he had noticed for the first time.

His words, "I never knew there was a church......" hung in the air between us for a moment and we both said, "That'll preach!"  I don't know anything about the church family that uses that particular building. They may be doing a dynamic work in our community with souls being saved on a regular basis, people living free and holy lives, saints operating in their spiritual gifts, with leadership who is totally sold out to what Jesus has revealed to them as their mission and vision.  Then again, they could be a dried-up, dead, ritualistic bunch of folks who treat the church as a social club.  That church on the interstate isn't the point.  The point is:  I wonder how many people who don't know anything about God are in that state because they never knew there was a church.

In this case, it's not a church building I am considering.  The church I attend had two church homes before I ever moved to Virginia and has had two more since I became a member.  I'm talking about the church as a whole - not my denomination, not my congregation, but the church around the world - the Body of Christ.

How many of us only express our relationship with God within the four walls?  Are our churches open to new people?  Would a visitor feel welcomed?  What about someone who was obviously under the influence or dressed immodestly?  Can we reach out in love to them as they are?

We are not just the church corporately, we are the church individually. Are there people in our sphere of influence who don't have a clue what we believe?  Are we distinguishable from unbelievers in any way?  Are we being the church?

During my teenage years, I had a friend who talked about sharing her faith with others.  She would say that she didn't want to enter heaven only to see those she knew being turned away looking at her saying, "Why didn't you tell me?" 

When all is said and done, I know there will still be some who have not accepted Christ - those who think that I'm naive or crazy or stupid.  I don't care what they think of me, but I don't want to be their excuse for not accepting the truth of God.  I don't want them to say that they never knew there was a church. Let's let them know!