Are Your Lights on at Dusk?

I was driving home in that twilight time between sunlight and darkness. Most cars had already put their headlights on. I first encountered a car that had only its parking lights lit. It occurred to me that at the moment this may be adequate, but very soon this minimal lighting would not pierce the darkness and illuminate the path of this vehicle. A few minutes later I saw an oncoming car with no lights on it all. I prayed a quick prayer that he would notice the lights of all the other vehicles and realize that his lights were not on. He soon would not be able to see his path except for by the rearview lights of the vehicle ahead of him. And other vehicles would not be able to see him in the darkness.

This is sometimes how it is as we travel the path of life. The world that we enter may be getting spiritually darker as we continue to travel. Do we always have our headlights on? Do me sometimes have only a little light? And are we sometimes out there traveling in darkness without even realizing it?

As we go about our days we are commanded by Jesus to be light in a dark world. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” (Matthew 5:14 AMP) We are not to hide our light but rather shine brightly. “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16 AMP) This is accomplished by living out His teachings.

The best way to be sure that your light is turned on is by spending time regularly with God in the study of the Scriptures. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105 AMP) The psalmist goes on to say, ^“The entrance and unfolding of Your words give light; their unfolding gives understanding (discernment and comprehension) to the simple.” (Psalm 119:130 AMP) Whenever we need understanding we can obtain it by studying the word of God. The more that we study, the brighter the light in our lives will shine. When we fail to spend time in the Word of God we can lose both the light that leads us and the ability to shine for others to see God.

The prophet Isaiah also spoke about following God’s example as a way to shine before men. Concerning fasting that pleases God he wrote, ^“[Rather] is not this the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every [enslaving] yoke? Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house—when you see the naked, that you cover him, and that you hide not yourself from [the needs of] your own flesh and blood? Then shall your light break forth like the morning, and your healing (your restoration and the power of a new life) shall spring forth speedily; your righteousness (your rightness, your justice, and your right relationship with God) shall go before you [conducting you to peace and prosperity], and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. (Isaiah 58:6-8 AMP) When we walk in love as we have seen Jesus do, we shine forth His light and the Lord’s glory is seen behind us.

Concerning the ministry of Jesus, the prophet Isaiah said, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great Light; those who dwelt in the land of intense darkness and the shadow of death, upon them has the Light shined.” (Isaiah 9:2 AMP) Jesus walked on this earth displaying the love of God in everything He did. People who could not formerly see the truth and light of God were able to see it in the life of Jesus. They were able to receive and walk in that light of new life. As we display the same love and compassion of God in our actions, people who have never seen God’s light before will also see it and be drawn to it.

As you head out each day to live your life on the road God leads you, be sure that your lights are shining bright. You may be entering darkness that is falling more quickly than you realize. Full of God’s word, you will be able to see the path ahead. Others will also be able to see your light and follow it to the Heavenly Father.