But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said:
“Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
Ephesians 5:13,14
Everything means everything. I know it sounds like a quote from Captain Obvious, but it’s an important truth. In the prior versus, fruitless deeds of darkness and evil are so shameful that we’re warned not even to talk about it.
The promise of God is that everything is exposed to him. There is nothing that is hidden from him. He sees everything, hears everything, knows our every thought.
And because he knows it all, he can rightly be both our judge and defender. He sees when people abuse us, take advantage of us, steal from us. He can protect and defend us. He can also judge and give out punishment justly because he always has all the facts.
There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.
Luke 12:2,3
Jesus lived under this promise of God. He trusted that his heavenly Father saw and heard everything. He could trust God to protect and defend him because he saw everything that surrounded Jesus’ life.
These evil people and things live in the dark. They move in the shadows. There is only one way they can be seen: they have to be exposed to light. They don’t shine on their own. Something from the outside must create light that reflects on them. Exposes them.
The same thing is true in the physical world. Very few things create their own light. Most things on planet earth by themselves are in darkness. They can only see and be seen when they are in the light from another source.
I can only see my wife because light is being reflected off her. I can only see the keys on my laptop because light is hitting them and bouncing into my eyes.
Light reveals what’s been there all along, but you’d never know it. You could be standing next to a million dollars, but without light, there’s no way that you’d have any idea what was there.
That’s why we’re told everything illuminated becomes a light. Everything is in partnership with light. You don’t see anything without light. And light needs something to bounce off too. You see, things and light need each other.
There’s no world or people without light. They need each other. Perhaps that’s why Gods first words of creation are, “Let there be light.[1]” Without light there is no way to interact with the world or people. Without light, there is no way to see anything or to tell things apart. There is no way to compare things without light.
Everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.
Philippians 3:8 NLT
Paul saw his life and accomplishments in comparison to Jesus. The examination didn’t take long, and neither did the diagnosis. Everything he had every accomplished or hoped to do, everything he ever said or hoped to say were worthless in comparison to knowing Jesus.
And this knowing Jesus wasn’t just some words on a page. They weren’t some stories told around the campfire. They weren’t some video on the internet.
No, this knowing Jesus was a first-hand, personal relationship and experience. Yes, it started on the Damascus Road, but it also was being ridiculed, stoned, lowered over a wall to escape arrest, being thrown in jail, and shipwrecked.
Knowing Jesus may have the mountain top experiences, but it’s mostly day-to-day living where everything isn’t all peaches and cream. Most of daily life seems to move from one thing after another. Some of daily life is where things go from bad-to-worse. Where things fall apart.
It’s at these moments when we can turn to the one who loves us. The one who died for us. The one who’s preparing a place. The one who’s coming again for us.
Now that really does shine light on our life.
Noodling Questions
In what specific areas in your life has God shone his light into?
What was your immediate reaction?
How can God’s light shine in your life more effectively?
[1] Genesis 1:3
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