Letting Your Light Shine

Hello Brethren,

"Everybody is on edge," said my brother to me this week about things happening in the world. He is three years younger than me, and not in the Church. He was saying something that seems to be on everyone's mind. Behaviors and attitudes are changing, and our nation seems to be decaying from within. It is getting darker out there, but we do not need to be pulled into it.

Jesus said that He came "as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness" (John 12:46). Sadly, "men loved darkness rather than light" (John 3:19), and the world rejected Him. It still does. Neither does it receive our message today. For though "the light shines in the darkness...the darkness does not comprehend it" (John 1:5). The world says, "we look for light, but there is darkness! For brightness, but we walk in blackness!" (Isaiah 59:9).

Thank God that He called you out of this world. "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord" (Ephesians 5:8). Jesus says, "you are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14), so now is your time to shine! Separate yourself from the darkness in the world. Let the world see that there is something different about you. For you are "His own special people...who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9)!

Before the end, the minds of men will continue to darken. What my brother sees in the attitude of people is the darkness of evil, deception and confusion. The world is stumbling blindly while "evil men ...grow worse and worse" (2 Timothy 3:13). Indeed, "the night is coming when no one can work" (John 9:4). But if you have "the light of the world" (John 8:12) in you, then you do "not walk in darkness, but you have the light of life" (John 8:12). Therefore, continue to "walk as children of light" (Ephesians 5:8)! Be "blameless and harmless...without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world" (Philippians 2:15)!

Warm regards,

Andy Diemer

Pastor