“No one lights a lamp and hides it. Instead, He puts it on a lamp stand, to give light to all who enter the room. Your eyes light up your inward being. A pure eye lets sunshine into your soul.” Luke 11:33-34 (NIV)
No light has ever burned brighter than the light of a new Christian. At first, they tell everyone they see all the details of their salvation experience and explain it them that the only way to get into Heaven is Jesus. The light shines bright as they carry a Bible everywhere they go, and give gospel tracts out to everyone who does want and every who doesn’t want them.
Then, they run into Ralph. They might get halfway or maybe even completely through with their testimony before Ralph rudely interrupts with an angry “Don’t preach to me!” They have met opposition. How can someone not want to learn about Jesus? Now the lights dimmed a little.
Then they run into Russell. Russell takes the tract, reads it, and figures out a way to say” Jesus save me “as his life leaves his body. He wants all the pleasures and none of the responsibilities. Eat, Drink, and be Merry, for Jesus will forgive. Then he asks the unbelievers dumbest question, “Who was Cain’s Wife? So Cain slept with his sister?” The stunned new believer can not answer that, but promises to find out. The light grows dimmer still.
Then, they overhear the Pastor telling a dirty joke. Or gossiping about another church member. Laughing at a fat one. The new believer is now finished, as the wind of Spiritual Leaders whose actions violate everything the Bible says and what they preach to everyone else. The last whisper of wind is heard, as the light, once so bright, blends into the surrounding darkness.
Content Disclosure: There is a song I remember from Vacation Bible School that I used for the title of this story. I did not think that one up by myself.
Copyright 2007 Timothy E. Davis