Make God Discoverable

Les Eclarieurs Lighthouse in the Beagle Channel, Tiera del Fuego

 

'In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.' Matthew 5:16

Do you know that we are to make God discoverable? This was the central message I received from the sermon by Rob Watkins, a fellow passenger, entertainer ventriloquist and an evangelist, at an Inter-denominational Worship Service onboard the Sapphire Princess cruise ship on 22 January 2023. We were enroute to Antarctica.

Rob Watkins shared that he realised God can be discovered in 3 ways

• General revelation. This is through the beauty of God's creation and the wonders of Nature. All of the Christian 'seafarers' at the worship service are waiting to be confronted by the wonders of the Antarctica, its landscape and the fauna of the Southern Ocean. Have you ever experienced, standing before the Niagara Falls or at edge of the Grand Canyon, the overwhelming sense of the presence of God?

• Special revelation. Jesus Christ is God incarnate and comes alongside us revealing the nature of God to us. The Holy Spirit resides within us and helps us to sense the presence of God within us. The Triune God becomes evident to us. The Bible reveals God to us on a daily basis as we read God's Word, illuminating our minds and spirits.

• Relational revelation. This is where Christians can make God discoverable by being a good Christian witness to our family, friends and contacts. We are lights that shine and help others visualise God not only through the eyes, but in the soul and spirit. Jesus said that we are the lights of the world, 

'You are the light of the world - like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.' Matthew 5:14 (NLT)

 

 'In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they may see the good things you do and praise your Father who is in heaven.' Matthew 5:16 (CEB) 

The Matthew 5:16 text highlights our responsibilities in this relational revelation 

• The Place where our light should shine - Before men. Our Christian lives are to be lived in the presence of those around us, before many witnesses. We become transparent so that the Holy Spirit who lives within us shines forth as a testimony that God exists and works in our lives.

• The Process by which our light shines - Our good deeds. The things we do everyday out of love and with joy, bringing peace will be the things that people see and be inspired

• The Purpose for our light to shine - To glorify God. The good that we do should not point to ourselves but to God. God is the source of all goodness, the motivator of all good deeds.   

The lights of this world in the persons of all of us point towards God. We become ambassadors for Christ. The apostle Paul implored,

'So we are Christ's ambassadors; God is making His appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, "Come back to God!" 2 Corinthians 5:20

On the 25 Jan 2023, we left the Argentinian town of Ushuaia at the most southern tip of Patagonia and headed head for Cape Horn prior going on to Antarctica. The Captain told us that the pilots on board refused to disembark at Cape Horn because of stormy weather. We may not proceed for the planned scenic cruising at Cape Horn as the waves and swells may be as high as 6 feet. On the 26 Jan 2023 we crossed the Drake Passage between two areas of more stormy seas but through the fog caused by the cold clockwise Antarctic current and the warmer South Atlantic current. 

I am reminded of the sailors that accompanied Magellan, Francis Drake and many other explorers and sea-captains who attempted to round the Cape. How the sailors must have feared the raging waves. How important the lights from the many lighthouses, now present in the various channels, in Tierra del Fuego are for guidance and safety.   

There is a song, 'Let the Lower Lights be Burning' that explains the reason why Christ compels us to have our lights shining; our lights, our testimonies point the way to Christ like beacons for salvation of souls. In the event of life's shipwrecks Christ is the main light shining from lighthouse and we Christians are the lower lights holding our lanterns guiding many to the safety and salvation in Christ.  

Brightly beams our father's mercy

From his lighthouse evermore

But to us he gives the keeping

Of the lights along the shore

Let the lower lights be burning

Send a gleam across the wave

Some poor fainting, struggling seaman

You may rescue, you may save

Dark the night of sin has settled

Loud the angry billows roar

Eager eyes are watching, longing

For the lights along the shore

Let the lower lights be burning

Send a gleam across the wave

Some poor fainting, struggling seaman

You may rescue, you may save

Lionel

In The Darkest Night, Jesus Is Light

 

'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.' John1:4-5

On the 31 Oct 2021, we were at Marlborough UK, spending time with Debbie, John and the grandchildren. It was reputedly the darkest night of the year. The town had a celebration of this dark night of the year which coincided with the now American tradition of Halloween. 

The Celts marked this day as the beginning of the Celt New Year celebrating the end of the harvest season with a festival call Samhain. They would light bonfires and wear costumes, ostensibly to ward off ghosts. Then, Pope Gregory III designated the first of November as All Saints Day. Thus the evening before, was known as All Hallows Eve hence the later name, Halloween. Halloween was celebrated in Scotland and Ireland for centuries. The Irish and Scottish migrants brought many Halloween customs to North America in the 19th century. 

In the area around Marlborough in Wiltshire, scattered around the countryside are stone circles, the most famous being Stonehenge. In days of old, the Celts and the Druids would gather around these circles to worship and lit their torches in this the darkest night. It seems a perfect stage to celebrate the dark night of the year. 

But why celebrate darkness? The Emmanuel Church Marlborough which John and Debbie attend refused to mark such a festival. Instead that night they treated the children to a bonfire, celebrating the festival of light and the end of the harvest season instead of darkness. The children will light off sparklers and fireworks and will also receive an ample supply of sweets. 

Darkness is used to hide things and secrets. It is no wonder that some people fear darkness because they do not know what lurks in it. Darkness shrouds many grevious sins and malevolent intentions. Lady MacBeth in speaking of her evil intention, wanted the cover of the night to hide it, "Come thick night; And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell; That my keen knife see not the wound it makes, nor heaven peep through the blanket of night."

 

In teaching about darkness and light, the Bible said,

'This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but the people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.' John 3:19-21

In celebrating light, the children of the Emmanuel Church Marlborough are taught that there is no need to fear the dark. Luke, our 6 year old grandson, attended a 'Bright Lights Night' where there was a bonfire. He received a string of verses concerning Jesus coming as the Light of the World. Luke would wear these verses as bracelets around his wrist. 

'Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12

'In Him (Jesus) was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.' John 1:15

'Believe in the light while you have the light so that you may become children of light.' John 12:36

'I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.' John 12:46

Light reveals truth. It is hard to admit our imperfections or admit we are all sinners. But the light that Jesus reveals truth about ourselves. It takes a good deal of humility to see ourselves for what we are.

Light causes growth. Like plants who use the energy of the sunlight to photosynthesise and grow, we too will grow and blossom in the light of Christ. We are guided by the light of God's Word which is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our paths.  

Light reassures. Just as light from the sun warms us, so too will the light of Christ reassure us and warm our hearts. The burden of sin is lifted and we are secure.  Jesus, the Light, brings us to a place of peace with ourselves and with the world.

The Museum of the Moon at the Chapel, Marlborough College

At the same time in last week of Oct 2021, in the chapel of Marlborough College, there was an Exhibition of the Moon; a touring artwork by Luke Jerram. Staring at the large brightly lit globe in that beautiful wood panelled chapel, brought to mind the assurance of a shining moon in the dark of the night. However, despite the romantic song, 'By the Light of the Silvery Moon,' the moon does not have light of itself. The light which emanates from the moon and clearly lights up the night, is a reflection of the sunlight.

So are all Christians, who are called to be lights of the world, we are to reflect the light of Christ and thereby set fine examples of decent conduct in a darkened world. That is our witness. Jesus said, 

"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light up a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 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 

Let our lights shine even in the darkest night and at the darkest hour. Let's shine exuberantly!  'This Little Light Of Mine, I'm Gonna Let It Shine.'

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Everywhere I go, I'm gonna let it shine.

Everywhere I go, I'm gonna let it shine.

Everywhere I go, I'm gonna let it shine.

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

We will sing in peace,

We will sing in harmony.

We will sing in peace,

We will sing in harmony.

We will sing in peace,

We will sing in harmony.

We will sing in peace,

We will sing in harmony.

Let it shine around the world, We're gonna let it shine.

Let it shine around the world, We're gonna let it shine.

Let it shine around the world, We're gonna let it shine.

Let it shine around the world!

Let it shine, We'll all shine, We'll all shine, We'll all shine!

Let shine, let it shine, let it shine!

Lionel

A Light in the Attic




James at Lighthouse@Kiama

"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 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


Malcolm Muggeridge, an English author and satirist, was once asked the question, "What do you most want to do with the rest of your life?" He replied, “I should like my light to shine, even if only very fitfully, like a match struck in a dark, cavernous night and then flickering out.”

When our children were young, they liked to read poems by Shel Silverstein. One of these poems caught my attention

"There’s a light on in the attic

Though the house is dark and shuttered,

I can see a flickerin’ flutter,

And I know what it’s about.

There’s a light on in the attic.

I can see it from the outside,

And I know you’re on the inside . . . lookin’ out."

Uncannily, Muggeridge’s comment on the twilight years of life could well have been a commentary of a poem meant for children. A light no matter how dim or flickering attracts attention. Jesus told us to let our light shine before others

As we grow older we can become increasingly isolated and shut in, like living in dark and shuttered houses. In this final lap, many people hope to have the same aspiration as Muggeridge. If our lives in the past were not very good examples, we hope that however flickering and for whatever time remaining, the light we now have, would shine forth.

Light may be vision. Light may be virtue. Light may be wisdom. Light may be comprehension and light may be truth. Light may be a beacon.

Light must be seen. Why? Because the light we have is the light of Jesus. That light has a force-multiplier effect. It can reach out beyond our wildest expectations. Ephesians 5:8-10, "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases God".

There is a hymn, "Brightly Beams our Father's Mercy" which tells of the lights in each of us, as witnesses for Jesus, attracting others to Him. Our lamps no matter how feeble, may be instrumental in rescuing some soul, pull him out of the miry clay of his pathetic existence and put him on paths to salvation.

 
At this time we all are in the dark tunnel of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many cities in the world, including Singapore, are in shutdown mode and people are told to stay home and keep a social distance from each other. However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, a light in the attic and beaming light from the lighthouse, the light of Jesus. 

That light will bring us through such difficult times. In the dark days of Apartheid, the Black South Africans had a hymn, 'Siyahamba' or 'We are Marching in the Light of God'. It galvanised them and brought them through the difficult times of protests and violence. The question is are we standing in the light of God? Will we treasure the light of Jesus placed in us? This 'Little Light of Mine' are we gonna let it shine?

St Francis of Assisi, kneeling at a crucifix towards the end stages of his life, prayed, “All highest, glorious God, cast your light into the darkness of my heart. Give me right faith, firm hope, perfect charity and profound humility, with wisdom and perception, O Lord, so that I may do what is truly your holy will. Amen”

Lionel

PS Be inspired click on the song titles for the You-tube videos of the songs