Pulling into the driveway with a tired toddler and a trunk full of groceries, my husband and I debated whether we should wait out the 80 mph winds and sheets of rain that were pummeling our little Honda, or make a run for the shelter and air in our apartment. We opted for the latter, but just as we stood dripping inside our front door…the power flickered and went out. Awesomesauce. We spent the rest of the evening huddled around candles and flashlights in our living room, playing games and eating pizza, praying for air and safety, and connecting with friends and family to see if we could find a place with air conditioning for the night (no air + 7 months pregnant mama + 16 month toddler = no good). Thankfully, our power was restored later that evening, but others in our community (including my parents) have been given estimates of 5-7 days before the electric company will be able to reach their homes.
5-7 days of no air in these 100+ temperatures.
5-7 days of cleaning out refrigerators and freezers of spoiled food.
5-7 days of reconfiguring how to cook, live, and sleep.
5-7 days of darkness.
Darkness. The absence of light.
Darkness can be frightening, uncomfortable, and dangerous. And while our nation works to restore light to these communities in the coming days, I’m reminded of an even greater darkness that no amount of AEP crews and new transformers can repair. Our world revolves around the burning ball of the sun every day and yet, we find ourselves in the worst “darkness” imaginable. A darkness that is marked by sin, selfishness, and a separation from God. Because we are born with an inherent sin nature and we all fall short of God’s standards of holiness (Romans 3:23), our lives are lived under the structure and rules of the Enemy. But that moment we surrender our will and lives and call on His Name to invite Him to take His rightful place in our hearts and lives as Savior and Lord, we become “sons of light” (John 12:36).
We can then claim the words of 1 Thessalonians 5:4-6…
“Brothers and sisters, you are not in darkness…All of you are children of the light. You are children of the day. We don’t belong to the night. We don’t belong to the darkness.”
There is such joy and comfort in those words…BUT…He doesn’t leave us there. He doesn’t want us to just be content in our new-found identity – we’re called to DO something with the knowledge we’ve found and the joy we’ve been given…Matthew 5:14-16 gives us this command from Jesus…
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill can’t be hidden. Also, people do not light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand. Then it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine in front of others. Then they will see the good things you do. And they will praise your Father who is in heaven.”
Are the lights on in your heart-home?
How can you “be the light” to someone around you today?
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