“There are two kinds of light — the glow that illumines and the glare that obscures.” ~ James Thurber
There was an accident one night at a railroad crossing. A lawsuit followed, and during the proceedings, the flagman took the witness stand. The prosecuting attorney asked the usual questions. Then followed with an important one. He asked, “On the night of the accident, when you saw the car approaching, did you wave the lantern?” The flagman answered, “Yes, I waved the lantern.” The prosecuting attorney continued with more questions, and before long, he circled back around to the big question of the trial, “Did you wave the lantern?” “Yes,” answered the flagman, “I did wave the lantern.” The entire case rested on this very question. The prosecutor knew that this case would be won or lost on this bit of testimony, so the attorney sternly repeated the question, “I ask you again when you saw the car approaching the crossing, did you wave the lantern?” Once again, the flagman answered, “I did; yes, I waved the lantern.” The railroad company won the case. No damages were allowed. Later, the defense attorney was talking to the flagman. He said, “the prosecuting attorney had me worried when he kept asking, “Did you wave the lantern?” “Well,” said the flagman, what worried me was that the prosecutor might ask, “Was the lantern even lit?”¹
What kind of light does your lantern put off? (The lantern in this illustration represents your life.) What kind of light illuminates inside your character, your attitude, and your soul? Countless people are wandering the planet today, professing to believe and follow God, but their lanterns are not even lit. They wave their lanterns, but nobody sees them because they don’t illuminate God’s light. We can’t transmit something we don’t possess. If we don’t have the light of God burning bright inside our lives, we cannot shine God’s light on the path of darkness for others to follow. The only light we reflect is a glare, and that light only blinds and repels those who look at our lives. Our chief responsibility is to make sure that we answer God’s call to come closer to the light. God desires nothing more than to transform the darkness in our souls by creating a supernatural light inside every one of us for others to see and follow.
God of light and wonder, thank You for shining Your light on my soul. Allow my free will to accept Your invitation to “come closer to the light.” Would you please remove the defects of character that create the worldly desire to live in the dark and avoid Your light at all cost? Your light illuminates and powers the universe, and You are calling me to take refuge in Your light and power. Help me say “Yes” to your call. Transform my life so that You can use my life as a lamp to light the path for countless others all the days of my life. In Your Spirit and Name, I pray these things. May Your will not mine always materialize, now and forever. Amen.
Photo by Wonderlane on Unsplash
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