The
other day I was watching TV with my brother and the commercial for Centrum
Silver came on and within it it claimed;
“Your
eyes. Even at a distance of 10 miles, the length of 146
football fields, they can see the light of a single candle.”
I
thought it was an amazing fact, and made me really be amazed in the creativity
of God in how perfect and wonderfully He made the human body. What is even more
incredible about that, is that their advertising departments math was a little
off on their figures…“Based on several studies, in the right conditions
(total darkness, no atmospheric conditions or the curve of the horizon to
obscure the view), a healthy human eye can detect the light of a single candle
from between 15 and 30 miles away. Since 146 football fields is only 8.3
miles, this statement, whether for 8.3 miles or for 10 miles, appears to be
true based on published studies.” CAN.WE.SAY.WOW! Needless to say, that
commercial really stuck with me, so their advertising really did do their jobs.
Now let me shift this subject just a little bit…
… As we
know it has been the Christmas season and many churches do a candle light
service. Not being sure whether I’d even been to one before, I got to attend
one with my mom and my step-dad. Through most of the service I was like “this
is very corny”, us all sitting around singing Christmas songs felt like a bunch
of parrot’s sitting in a building mimicking what we’ve heard through most of
our lives. I felt it lacked passion, heart, and honestly any authenticity.
(which sadly was me being sinful, and judgmental, please forgive me). So the
service continued on and I thought it was amazing when the pastor pulled all
the kids up on the stage to share the Christmas story with them like he were in
his own living room with his kids or grand kids. Then of course after the Christmas
story it was now time to do the candle lighting after some instruction. We
walked up and got our individual candles, all the lights still being on, and
waited for everyone to be in place with candles in hand. It was time, all the
electrical lights were shut off and one candle was lit. Now, being a fairly
observant person, I couldn’t help but to notice that the one candle was enough
light to see in the entire sanctuary! One light! Then the light in the room was
rapidly multiplying as each person turned to the person beside them and helped
in lighting their candle, and then they would then pass it on. This continued
until every persons candle was lit.
In the
midst of the lighting it happened… the Holy Spirit started speaking to me. As I
was watching the room get brighter and brighter He said “See how each person
makes a big difference?” Tears started welling up in my eyes, because it was
the first time I’ve ever had a visual display of how each person in the Kingdom
of Christ really does make a difference.
Now
let’s shift again, on to tonight as I was prepping to lead worship for this
Sunday, I started just playing and singing spontaneously what has been running
through my mind and I was reminded of the scripture Matthew 5:14-16 which says,
“You
are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be
hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under
a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the
house. 16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they
may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
Just
the reflecting on this scripture I wrote this:
If
we are a city on a hill
then they’ll be looking to see what we’re doing
If we
are light that’s shining high
then where we are darkness should be expelled
it’s
gotta make you question
It’s gotta make you question
How are we living
What are
we saying
To awaken a dying generation
to know death has been beaten
How are we
serving
What are we doing
To be that light in the world
and that city on a hill
It’s
really gotta make you question
I have
obviously been taken back by this thought. God created our eyes to be
physically remarkable, but He created our spirits to be as well. I believe our
spirits see so much more than we realize, because out of the conditions of our
spirits our souls (will, mind and emotions) react, and out of our soul our
bodies react. If the physical eye can see light, then don’t you think
that spiritually us being light in this dark world, those around us will be
able to see us no matter where we are. Imagine if we worked together instead of
against each other. So many times we are more busy trying to extinguish other
lights around us instead of fanning the flames!
I don’t know
about you, but I know that I want to be that person that is the light in the
darkness, and is shinning so brightly that my “good works” will point others to
“glorify” my “Father!” I was so aware in that church service how human I am,
but through the lighting of the candles, and the centrum silver commercial, I
am also fully aware that God made me for a specific purpose and it’s to be that
light no matter whether I am here at home, or in a closed nation. I also know
for a fact that He is waiting on you to be available to be used by Him, after
all your eyes are amazing too!
