Into the Fire

If you ask people what is the first thing they notice about a person, some of them will reply the eyes. Now there are those who will say they first notice a person’s hair, or their hands, or their lips/mouth, or their nose. Someone might answer a person’s clothes are the first thing that catches their attention. No matter.

Jesus spoke of the eyes. “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” Matt. 5:22-23 (NIV)

I know what it’s like to have darkness in my eyes. To view life through that darkness. Unlike sin which has no degrees, darkness does seem to have degrees. The deeper into sin you slide, the darker the view from the inside out becomes and from the outside in appears.

I remember after I was born again, I looked in the mirror and was shocked to see the hardness on my face. My countenance held the etching of the world’s darkness. I thought, “Will Jesus ever be able to remove this?” The wonderful answer is a resounding Yes!

When cynicism fights for victory in my speech, when pessimism fights for dominance in my outlook, when negativism fights for presence in my attitude, I must remember the eyes have it. Jesus is seen through the eyes—if nowhere else. Let your light so shine before men . . .

We can give reasons for our personal versions of darkness, but we have no valid excuses. We have been given the light of the world. That is not to say dark periods will not come to us, or that our lives will not experience hard darkness in events, thoughts, or even practices. There will be times to try our faith, challenge our stance, keep us real. It isn’t a flimsy gospel we stand by. We will pull our share of Peter moments before our days come to an end. But may we all come back as strong as Peter did once the Holy Spirit got a hold of him.

Imperfect people in an imperfect world. Write about it. There’s an audience out there who can identify—God will see to that.

And remember: the eyes have it. Spread the light. Extinguish the darkness.

God, fill us up with the light of your Son. Jesus, let us remember you are with us always, all ways. We are never alone once we have given our lives to you. You are the Master, the Savior, the Lord, our Friend, our Advocate. Apart from you, we can do nothing. Thank you, Lord. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.