How Is the Lighting?

When I was young, my mother often scolded me for studying with inadequate light. As daylight turned to dusk she could often be heard saying, “Turn the light on. You will ruin your eyes!” As the sun had dropped beneath the horizon and the light had gradually dimmed, my eyes had adjusted and the change had been nearly imperceptible until it was quite dark.

Mom’s words have come to mind recently as I sat in a dimly lit room reading a document in which several passages had been highlighted in yellow for emphasis. In a brightly lit setting, the words of these highlighted passages would practically jump off the page. Here, in this dimness, it was difficult to even detect any difference between the highlighted sections and the non-highlighted passages. The emphasis of the highlighting was nearly lost because of the poor lighting.

How often do we fail to see what is being highlighted in our spirits because we are seeing in a spiritually dim light? Distractions of daily life hit the dimmer switch over and over again. With each distraction the light is decreased a little bit more until finally we find it difficult to understand what God is trying to highlight in our lives. As the light slowly dims, we can often be unaware of the change because it is so gradual. Our spiritual eyes adjust to the lessening light and we do not realize what has come between and blocked a portion of the light of Jesus are shining into our hearts.

Jesus is the true light. “... He said, I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not be walking in the dark, but will have the Light which is Life. (John 8:12 AMP) Jesus is also is known as the Word of God. “In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. He was present originally with God. All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being. In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men.” (John 1:1-4 AMP) It is through our relationship with Jesus Christ that we can receive the light and see clearly.

 Not only does Jesus give us lights, but He has also sent the Holy Spirit to bring the highlighter of conviction to us. “However, I am telling you nothing but the truth when I say it is profitable (good, expedient, advantageous) for you that I go away. Because if I do not go away, the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you [into close fellowship with you]; but if I go away, I will send Him to you [to be in close fellowship with you]. And when He comes, He will convict and convince the world and bring demonstration to it about sin and about righteousness (uprightness of heart and right standing with God) and about judgment.” (John 16:7-8 AMP) The Holy Spirit highlights both sin and righteousness in our lives. When we receive this conviction we have the opportunity to act on what is being highlighted in our hearts. Sin can be turned away from and the righteous path can be followed with renewed confidence.

 Reading and studying the Scriptures opens us up to receive light. “The entrance and unfolding of Your words give light; their unfolding gives understanding (discernment and comprehension) to the simple.” (Psalm 119:130 AMP) As we study the light brightens and each highlighted portion of our lives becomes clear. The path we are to follow will also become clear. “But the path of the [uncompromisingly] just and righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines more and more (brighter and clearer) until [it reaches its full strength and glory in] the perfect day [to be prepared].” (Proverbs 4:18 AMP)

We also find that the family of God is to walk together in the light. “But if we [really] are living and walking in the Light, as He [Himself] is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses (removes) us from all sin and guilt [keeps us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations].” (1 John 1:7 AMP) God will often use a fellow believer to provide direction and even correction that may be needed in us. We can welcome this form of His highlighter pen on a page of our lives

So turn the light up by spending time in God’s word and walking closely in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Do not let any distraction dim the light. Then, when the Holy Spirit highlights something in your heart, you will see it clearly.