Shining in Darkness

I learned a valuable lesson at party the other night on the importance of being light in darkness. 

My friend and colleague Sasha threw a surprise birthday party for another friend.  I arrived well after the surprise.  After mingling and dancing a bit, I was cornered by two rambunctious women, Ram and Bun, and their shy friend, Innocence.  Ram, Bun, and Innocence are college buddies that have a connection that has outlasted their college days.  Bun notices my covenant ring, “Where’s your wife?”  I smile and baited her with, “I am not married.”  Bun asks, “So why do you wear a ring?” I reply, “It is an abstinence ring.”  Ram prompted by her liquid courage spouts, “I love sex.  I can’t do that.” Bun inquires, “Do you do it for religious reasons?”  I patiently reply, “Yes, I do.”  Bun remarks, “That is great.  I ain’t ready to give that up.  I know I need to get right with the Lord.” Innocence smiles and sighs, “That is great.” 

Innocence seemed torn.  While she applauded me she expressed regret in her own voice.  She longed for her purity.  I could almost hear the conversation that she must have had with Ram and Bun during their college years about sex.

Innocence, “I don’t know ya.  I know I am supposed to wait.  But, I think I love him. ”  Ram chimes in, “Girl, I love me some sex!  It feels so good. You better go ahead and break him off.  If you won’t, someone else will.”  Bun replies, “Honey, be careful.  Once you open that door it is hard to close.  Trust me.”  Ram proclaims, “And my door is wide open! They all laugh, but Innocence is still on the fence.  She eventually gives in.  And eventually, her boyfriend breaks up with her.  Innocence is devastated and has not been in a serious relationship since. 

I get on my soap box and say, “Sex is a beautiful thing.  I have made mistakes in the past.  But, I have learned that sex is best expressed in marriage. ”  Innocence asks, “Is it hard for you to come to parties like this?”  I reply, “No, not anymore.  My view of women has changed.  I no longer view ya as sex objects. But rather, I have come to see a woman as a whole person and don’t focus on your sexuality.” Bun interjects, “I have a friend like you.  She is a Christian and is abstaining.  Ya need to meet.”  Ram laughing says, “Whateva!  I need sex. ” 

Shortly thereafter, my three friends left.  As we were exchanging parting hugs, Innocence embraced me just long enough to say,” Pray for me.”  I looked at her, smiled, and spoke with my eyes, “I will.  Everything will be ok.”   

Matthew 5:16 best summarizes this lesson, “Let your light shine before men so that they will see your good works and glorify God.” 

As Christians, we need to be a light to people who are living in darkness.  We can be that light by being friendly and personable to all people.  That is the simplest way to express the love of God.   You just never know where your light might shine.  I had no idea that I would talking to three young ladies struggling in their walk with God.  Instead of boasting of my covenant of purity, I let the fruit of meekness draw them.  I know I planted seeds and watered some others.  Innocence is ripe for rededication or conversion.  Bun has known God before, but needs to let go of shame and return to Him as-is.  Ram has a reprobate mind and just needs a lot of prayer.  I believe the power of the their friendship will get them all saved.

Be a light everywhere you go. Don’t be ashamed of God.  At the same time, don’t shame others through condemnation.  Let the love of God guide.  Remember the Proverb, “He who win souls is wise.” Lastly, realize that as Christians, we are the only Jesus that some will ever see. 

What kind of Jesus are you presenting to the world? 

Keep fighting for your dream!

Image=Me!

I am a visual person.  I love art, visual performances, cinema, landscapes, sunsets, countrysides… I could go on and on.  I love the physical form; God whispers through it.   If you slow down enough and quiet yourself, the imagery that bombards your optical sensors have spiritual colors interwoven in their visual tapestry.  The universe is a spansive canvas for our God the painter. 

I have been blind for months now.  I stopped listening to God.  I stopped seeing who I am.  A plague of darkness had enveloped me.  I cried to God, but could not see His response.  I completely isolated myself.  Death’s creepy knock could be heard at my door.  Eventually, the cacophony became a distorted melody of false truth.  I had exchanged the truth for a lie. I was buried with Jesus and said the resurrection is impossible for me.  I have wondered what the transient Jesus, that is the post crucifixtion-pre resurrection Jesus, experienced and what is the analogous Christian.  The between place. A pergatory of sorts.  I feel I’ve been in this place for a time now.

I died months ago.  I died the moment I began to deny my purpose.  I died the moment I became a servant of a man and not God.  I stopped looking at my prophetic image and called God a liar with my actions of denial.  James 1:22-24 sums it up best, “ 22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ”  I have been such a man.

Let me share a revelation with you.  When you stop pursuing your dreams, stop becoming what God has formed you to become, stop talking to God about your dreams, you inevitably will forget who you are, who God is, and what life really means.  Life is not about the accummulation of material things.  Life is not about paying off debt.  Life is not about marrying the person of your dreams.  The meaning of life is summed up by one word–Love.  Love is the only reason we exist.  Love is the only reason we live.  Love is the only reason share.  Love is about giving yourself to the world.  That is what life is truly about-giving because love caused you to.  The dreams that God has impregnated us all with is about discovering, developing, and deploying the gifts inside of us.   Love must give.  Love must connect with others.  Love must be.   

Recently, my mentor asked for a picture of me for an advertisement.  So, I sent him the picture at the beginning of this post.   I had forgotten what I looked like.  I forgotten about all the gifts, talents, and abilities that God has given me.  This picture reminds me of who I am and what I will be.  I am a preacher, politician, activist, businessman, motivational speaker, or professor dressed in that suit.  Those are all passions in my heart.  My major thesis of this entry is become the image God has shown you. In short, “Image=Me!”  What has God assigned you to do.  God will show you an image (Image).   That image has an assignment (=).  That assignment can only be done by you(Me!)! Hence, Image=Me!

Write down what God has said you are.  This could be the gifts He has given, or the dream he has given you.   Post it on your bathroom mirror.  Look at it everyday and speak who you are.  Be proud of it.  Be thankful for it.  Be excited about it. Image=Me! And by all means, give it away.  Give at every possible moment.  Find people who appreciate your gift and who you are and give it to them.  If people around don’t celebrate who you are and and to share their gifts with you, then get rid of them.  Isolation sucks, but be unappreciated is worst.  God will provide friends and helpers for your dream.  

Here’s a closing thought for you, “Who are you?”  Go look in the mirror and listen to what you hear.  If anything negative comes to mind, then that is not God.  When you hear a positive thought, say it aloud.  Keep saying it.  Eventually other positive things will come out.  Write them down as you go. Ignore the negative. Do this for five minutes.  See how many great things God has to say about you. 

I love you all. Remember, Image=Me! Keep fighting for your dreams!