Let It Shine

Luke 8:16-18 NIV: “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him.”

The topic here is light. Jesus told us that He is the light of the world. He was telling us that He is the source of enlightenment, or wisdom and understanding. He passes this enlightenment to us then gives us the assignment to pass it on. He told his disciples, “you are the light of the world, so let your light shine before men so they will praise your Father in Heaven”.

If I get up in the night to find my way to the bathroom, I flip on a light switch. I do not want my bare foot to step on a wandering spider or any other critter that might be sneaking around in the night. When the light comes on nothing is hidden, all is brought out into the open. I safely come and go. (No pun intended).

Jesus wants us enlightened for several reasons. There are things we don’t need to be stepping on the darkness, things that could harm us. His enlightenment provides safety, a light to our path. Also, our enlightenment leads others to His light.

Jesus adds one more interesting thing about this light that He gives. It multiplies. When He is the source of the enlightenment it grows and grows. And he cautions those who find a source of light somewhere else, it will be extinguished.

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.

Hide it under a bushel, NO! I’m gonna let it shine.

A Miracle Within

This week I planted some seeds in little pots thinking ahead to spring and garden time. These are seeds that I got from a place that sells only heirloom seeds, that is, seeds that will continue to reproduce from season to season.

I think that we may have lost the wonder of the miracle of seeds since we have become a society that gets our food supply from the store instead of the garden. To add to the erosion of wonder the seeds within the food we buy won’t produce a crop, and many of the seeds out there will produce one crop only. There are now patents on seeds. Heirloom seeds are not like that. They have not been “altered” to not reproduce.

When you stop to think about it seeds, “real” seeds are filled with mystery and a miracle. God being the creator of seeds has placed something inside them that carries a message for us, a message of love. In my mind’s imagination I can hear a long ago conversation.

Jesus: “I have an idea, Father.”

God: “What is this idea Son?”

Jesus: “Well, let’s do the plants this way, I mean, I know it is pretty easy to speak forth the plants, as we will do to start out, but considering, and knowing all about the people that are to be, let’s give them an added reminder about us, a reminder about eternity. It is so important for them to understand that eternity is real, and to prepare for eternity. I want them to be with me Father.

God: “I like your idea Son. Put within the seeds eternity, the ability to reproduce after their kind forever.

Jesus: “Done.” (Genesis, chapter 1 Day 3 of creation.)

I don’t know if God the Father and God the Son ever had such a conversation or not. I know from John Chapter 1 that Jesus was there because it says: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him: and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

As I planted those seeds, I planted them with the intention of harvesting some seeds when the plants are mature so that I will have seeds to plant again. I am moved by the miracle in those tiny seeds. I am reminded of the miracle within me, a soul. My pastor says, “You are not a body with a soul, you are a soul with a body. I do see eternity in the seeds, and it does cause me to ponder my own eternity beyond the use of this earthly body. I want to spend eternity with my creator, the one who though He could have spoken new plants every season, chose to put within them a picture for me that would help me grasp how great is my Lord.