One of the things I have done over the past couple of days is clean the mirrors and windows. There was a light coating of construction dust on everything.
It wasn’t a priority the first couple of days, but it really began to annoy me. I could even write my name in the dust on the mirrors surface. Time for a cleaning!
This morning, I was reminded of a collection of vintage oil lamps I used to have. I loved using them; the ambiance of the flickering flame was so soothing; they gave good light but the glass chimneys had to be cleaned on a regular basis or the light they put off was diminished.
Just like life, isn’t it?
We are called to let our light shine so those around us can see the Father and His promises but sometimes our chimneys get smoke covered and our true image is distorted by the dust.
“The Lord’s instruction is right; it makes our hearts glad. His commands shine brightly, and they give us light.” Psalm 19:8 CEV
We start out excited about God’s word. It makes a powerful impact in our lives and then we get busy, we forget God’s promises, worry puts a sooty film on things and we need to be cleaned.
” No one lights a lamp and then hides it or puts it under a clay pot. A lamp is put on a lampstand, so everyone who comes into the house can see the light. 34 Your eyes are the lamp for your body. When your eyes are good, you have all the light you need. But when your eyes are bad, everything is dark. 35 So be sure your light isn’t darkness. 36 If you have light, and nothing is dark, then light will be everywhere, as when a lamp shines brightly on you.” Luke 11:33-36 CEV
God’s word is the lamp that lights our path.
“Your word is a lamp that gives light wherever I walk.” Psalm 119:105 CEV
The light doesn’t change. God’s word doesn’t change; it’s our perspective that often times get clouded by our circumstances and opinions around us.
“The Scriptures say, ‘God commanded light to shine in the dark.’ Now God is shining in our hearts to let you know that his glory is seen in Jesus Christ. 7 We are like clay jars in which this treasure is stored. The real power comes from God and not from us.” II Corinthians 4:6-7 CEV
May I encourage you to do a “white glove” test on the chimney of your life. Is it cloudy, does it have a little dust? Maybe it’s gotten covered with soot and it’s time for a cleaning.
“You used to be like people living in the dark, but now you are people of the light because you belong to the Lord. So act like people of the light 9 and make your light shine. Be good and honest and truthful” Ephesians 5:8-9 CEV
“Christ did this so He could set the church apart for Himself. He made it clean by the washing of water with the Word.” Ephesians 5:26 NLV
Let God do some good old fashioned cleaning so that our lights shine brightly in this world.