Light That Travels
By Jennifer Waddle

“The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.” Matthew 4:16

Recently, while watching a documentary about the distant planets in our solar system, I was surprised to hear that light from the sun reaches Neptune in just over 4 hours. For some reason, I imagined it taking much longer for the sun’s rays to travel such a great distance. Yet, in the miraculous way light was created - by the spoken Word of God - I shouldn’t be at all surprised at how light travels.

The Bible speaks of the True Light, Jesus Christ, who came to light the way for all of mankind. Sadly, many have remained in darkness as John 1:5 says, “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”

Perhaps, like the dark side of the moon, many remain in darkness, unaware of the brilliant rays of life offered freely to them. They’ve never experienced the life-giving truth Jesus’ light brings. And because they are facing the wrong direction, they only see the vast darkness ahead of them.

That’s why every Christ-follower needs to reflect the light of the Lord within their sphere of influence. Within their homes, their workplaces, and their communities, Jesus’ light needs to shine through the life of every believer. No longer can we keep our faith to ourselves. It’s time to rise like the dawn, over a lost and dying world, and display the light of Christ clearly and brightly.

My friends, as the days grow shorter and we are ever nearer to Jesus’ return, it is imperative that we climb out from our comfortable hiding spots and place our lamps on their stands. Just as beacons of the sun’s light eventually reach the outermost places of the universe, so the light of Jesus can shine through us to reach a lost and dying world. We don’t have to worry about how fast the light will travel, or how far it will go. We simply need to shine.

Heavenly Father, 

Please shine through each of us today. No matter where we are, even in the darkest of places, shine the light of Your Son ever brighter through us. As we carve out daily time in Your Word and in prayer, fill us to the full with rays of hope and peace. Then, send us into the world armored with Your truth. Let us not falter or hide within our comfort zones, but instead, lead us into a dark world that desperately needs your light. It is in the name of Jesus we pray these things. 

Amen.

For more about God’s light, check out these articles:

10 Beautiful Ways God’s Light Defeats Your Darkness
How to Be a Light In the Darkness: 3 Keys from Scripture
10 Ways to Shine Bright for Christ

Jennifer Waddle is the author of several books, including Prayer WORRIER: Turning Every Worry into Powerful Prayer. She is a regular contributor for LifeWay, Crosswalk, Abide, and Christians Care International. Jennifer’s online ministry is EncouragementMama.com where you can find her books and sign up for her weekly post, Discouragement Doesn’t Win. She resides with her family near the foothills of the Rocky Mountains—her favorite place on earth. 

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