In recent days, my heart has been pondering the ideas of darkness and light. The Bible contains many references to both.
Psalm 56:13 says, "For You have delivered my soul from death, indeed my feet from stumbling, so that I may walk before God in the light of the living."
Then in Psalm 89:15, we read, "How blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! O Lord, they walk in the light of Your countenance."
For those who believe that Jesus, God incarnate, came into this world to reconcile those separated from God by their sin through His death on the cross, victory over the grave, and His triumphant resurrection, we know that He IS the Light of the world. In the New Testament, John 12:46 expresses these words from Jesus: "I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness."
Given these and many other scriptures referring to the Light, I wonder, then, why people crave the antithesis of light when they worship - and maybe even throughout an entire church service. I have read articles that discuss the merits of "mood" and how it can promote the movement of the Holy Spirit among the congregation. Some say that people feel more free to worship if they are in darkness. Some say that it serves to heighten the experience of the worshippers.
I, however, believe, that we are not the ones who manipulate God or the Holy Spirit. He does not need our mood lighting. He does not need our concert-level speaker systems pounding out the drum beat until I feel it in my sternum.
I believe that He only needs willing people who come to Him with open hearts wanting to exalt Him with all of their souls and all of their might. The Holy Spirit is present. He is willing, capable, and ready to move among God's people.
Jesus is the Light. I believe we should be willing to worship Him unashamed in light, for one day - one day when we see Him face-to-face - we shall behold Him in all of His glory, in all of the Light of His splendor emanating from Him.
The flip of a light switch won't work to pitch us into darkness. We will be flooded with Light.
Shouldn't we practice NOW what we truly desire for eternity?
I choose Light rather than darkness.
Just a Note...from the Heart.
Blessings!
Tammi
