Let the Light Shine

[0:00] A pastor's reflections. Let the light shine. Exodus 25, 37. And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof,! and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it.

[0:15] Genesis 1, 3, and 4. And God said, Let there be light. And there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good. And God divided the light from the darkness.

[0:27] Ephesians 5, 13. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light. For whatsoever does make manifest is light. We often take for granted the everyday wonders of the world we live in.

[0:44] It is not that we mean to take these things for granted, but that we have become so used to them that we no longer see them for the wonders that they are. When God introduced light into the world on day one of creation, He had done something that had never before been seen.

[1:01] Literally. Where there was once only darkness, there was now light. And with light came all the possibilities of the life that we now enjoy and often take for granted.

[1:14] You see, each day, God in a sense replays the first day of creation. As night turns to day, the world again experiences light entering into darkness.

[1:25] In Exodus chapter 25, Moses has just received instructions on the constructing of the lampstand that will light the interior of the tabernacle.

[1:37] As cool a design as this lampstand is, the ultimate purpose of the lamp is to give light. It is not so important how ornate or beautiful the lampstand is if it does not complete its most basic function as a source of light.

[1:55] It is easy to take for granted the purpose of this lampstand in the midst of all that is taking place with the design of the tabernacle. However, without the light, the interior of the tabernacle can never be experienced as it was meant to be.

[2:12] As we live our lives each day, we do not often stop to wonder at the daily turning of the world from dark to light. God's masterpiece of creation is lost in the midst of what is now so common and familiar.

[2:30] We often forget that the whole purpose of light is so that we might see and experience the life that God has created for us. Isaiah 60 verse 1 Arise, shine, for thy light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.

[2:51] Have you been taking for granted the miracle of light that God has shined into your life? It's okay. We all do it. We do not mean to take for granted the light but have simply become used to what we once thought so amazingly miraculous.

[3:06] Maybe today you need to be reminded of the purpose of God's light in your life. That as a new creation you are now able to see and partake of the illuminated life of the Spirit.

[3:23] 2 Corinthians chapter 4 verses 3 and 4 But if our gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost and whom the God of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not.

[3:37] Lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ who is the image of God should shine unto them. Father, thank you for shining your glorious light into our lives.

[3:50] Thank you for illuminating our darkness and giving us your truth to light our way. Help us to remember that the purpose of the light is to give light so that we might see and so we might shine your light into the lives of those who are still in darkness.

[4:09] Amen. Amen.

[4:56] Amen. Amen.

[5:28] Thank you.