You are the Light of the world. Matthew 5: 14

Sunday night was both a time to get further acquainted with people that I will be working with and also an unplanned initiation to the life of Our Saviour! After a delicious dinner, delightful conversation, and beautiful sunset, I got on the bus to head back to church along with several others. As the bus headed down the driveway, the comment was heard, "The headlights aren't on!" and we were soon to find out that they were not working at all. For several minutes, a variety of different options were tried, but none of them brought instantaneous results. Eventually, the wires that bring "juice" to the lights were located and low and behold...there was light!

In our Christian walk with our Savior we too are like headlights on a vehicle. Sometimes we shine brightly, leading others to Christ. Other times we are dimmed by the dust of pride. We have often heard that sometimes our actions speak louder than our words. A few years ago a former neighbor shared with me that he could see I was a Christian after I had helped him build his pond. I'm sure I looked at him with a puzzled expression on my face, but he went on and said that whenever the rocks we were placing around the edge squeezed my fingers, I didn't utter a list of profanities! I just went along, doing what I was asked to do. Wow! Unfortunately though, he feels that he leads a good life and that will earn him a spot in heaven. Ugh! Throughout the years we've had other talks about Christ and what He's done for each of us. We have even talked about what the "ticket" is that will allow us to get enter the gates of heaven and he just can't accept the fact that believing that Christ's blood, shed for us out of pure love for us, is the answer.

I'm currently reading a "non-Lutheran" book that talks about the theory of a rapture taking the believers to heaven and leaving everyone else wondering what just happened. These "left behinders" start questioning whether or not Christ actually took the believers to be with him and if that is what really happened, do they have a second chance to change their ways. Of course that isn't what will happen one day. Christ will come and make His judgment publically and finally. No second chances. No way to bypass the system. You're either wired into Him, shining the light to others, or you're not.

He has given us an awesome task of sharing that Light with others: go into the entire world and tell others of Me. He didn't qualify it by saying only when you feel like it, when you have the financial resources to do it, or when you feel equipped to do so. He wires Himself into each of us when we partake of the Sacraments. He wires Himself into us when we study His word. We are wired together when we come to Him in prayer. He wires Himself into us to shine brightly to others His love and His forgiveness. When wired, we are able to accomplish the task given to us.

We have a great opportunity to radiate Him, like headlights, out into the community. I challenge you this week to think of someone, (i.e. family, neighbor, co-worker, etc.) who may not see the light. Pray for that person. Ask God to also send His Holy Spirit upon you to equip you, to open the door, and to share the Light in the near future.

Enjoying the ride,

Jane