Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

It was during the 1800s, in Birmingham, England, a poor, little boy went to one of the newly formed Sunday schools. There he heard his teacher say Jesus was the “Light of the world”. The lad, being unfamiliar with adults and the symbolic language we sometimes use, took the teacher’s remark quite literally.

After class, the boy came up to his teacher and reflectively said, “If Jesus really is the light of the world, I wish He’d come and visit the street outside my home. It’s awful dark where I live.”

As we start 2012, it occurs to me that the entire world is, like that little boy, longing that the light would come to them. Throughout recorded history, unaided and unsaved humankind has been living in the dark. The events of this past year, in every corner of the globe, tell us that it’s pretty dark where almost everybody is living.

Indeed, it’s quite possible there are dark homes on your street or in your neighborhood.

If that is the case, it is my prayer that this new year may be filled with the light, which comes from our crucified and ever-living Lord Jesus. And, if your home already is filled with Jesus, the Light of life, won’t you shine some of it to those around you.

As the song says, “this little Gospel light of mine, I’m going to let it shine”. It may be a children’s song, but it is an opportunity for every man, woman, and child who live in the Light of the Lord to shine.

Let the love of God “Shine”!

I was recently thinking about how my life has changed, and how different I am because of my relationship with Christ; how my life has been so influenced by Christ. But what bothers me, or is at least disconcerting is how so many people’s lives aren’t better.

Before you get upset with me, let me explain: I see people who have done a 180 if you will … leaving a life of crime, drug use, hurting people, lies, etc. etc. and when they encounter this Jesus that I serve and follow they become better people, better in every way. Then on the other hand there are people right in the church, who claim to love this same Jesus I love, but they are unaffected by their relationship with Him. Why? I do not know all the answers why this is, but I would like to take a peek in the window and give a thought or two.

Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

The key word there I believe is the word LET … we are to LET the words of Christ DWELL in us, or one translation uses the word LIVE … let the words of Christ LIVE in you. I know this to be at least one key element … along with others.

If I am honest it really bothers me that I know way too many mean, ugly (I don’t mean physically unattractive) Christians. I know Christians who have glow in the dark personality disorders and they hurt people all the time, yet they continue to be UNCHANGED by this Jesus I love and serve. Why? How? I know Christians who cheat on their spouses, lie to their kids, lie to their friends … why? How can this be?

How has my relationship with Christ kept me from so many destructive things (I am far from perfect … but you understand what I am saying I hope)? How is it that a relationship with Christ compels so many to live a better life, a life of honor, honesty and love for mankind … and with so many others it doesn’t seem to help them?

I do feel this is a mole, or a flaw on the face of Christianity though … so many people claim to be Christians and when someone sees them doing things that are contrary to what they claim to believe in … it’s confusing.

What about you; how has your relationship with Christ changed you? Helped you? Influenced you? Encouraged you?

“Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53: 4-5

New Years Resolution? I thought this was interesting.

The people of Korea have an interesting New Year’s custom.
Wishing to forget things unpleasant and make a fresh start, each person recalls all the bad habits he wishes to have removed. Then, he writes all of these evils on a kite, which he flies high into the air. When the kite is almost out of sight, the person cuts the string. The kite makes a nosedive and then disappears out of sight. The individual goes home rejoicing that all the bad things from the past year are gone forever.

Don’t you wish it were that easy?

My experience has taught me that the nasty transgressions and habits of the past have a tendency to stay with us longer than we would ever like. Even a high-flying kite can’t take them away.

No, if anyone is going to start this New Year, or even this new day fresh and forgiven, something more cleansing than a paper kite is going to be needed.

We’re going to need Jesus. Only in Jesus can our sins be sent sailing; only in Jesus can we be given peace. That’s what Isaiah wanted us to know when he wrote, “The chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed.” It is cause for thanksgiving.

Now, I don’t think we ought to throw out the entire Korean custom. The idea of listing all our sins and sorrows is a good one. It’s something repentant Christians ought to do regularly. Just as regularly we should, by the Holy Spirit’s direction, place that list into the nail-pierced hands of the Savior.

When that is done we can rejoice for those bad things from our past are gone forever.

Psalm 147:3 “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

There is definitely a misconception about the word “salvation” in Christian circles. Many times Christians (this would include me) feel or think or believe that Jesus came to just save our soul. And the truth is that YES He did come to save our soul, but He also came to do more than that … He came to SAVE us from all our brokenness.

The word “save” in Jesus day had a lot more meaning then just “saving souls”, Jesus came to rescue us from all our brokenness.

Let’s be honest, I know a lot of people who are “saved” but they are broken. They have broken marriages, broken emotions, broken friendships, broken hearts, broken lives … and I believe that Jesus can help to put the pieces of our broken lives back together again.

It starts with being honest with ourselves and with others about our brokenness … and giving the broken pieces of our lives over to Christ to do His work.

Over the last couple of years and months I have noticed that MY LIFE ADVENTURE has become more important to me. I have always taken life pretty serious in the sense that I work hard to accomplish what I feel God has laid out before me … but lately it’s become even more urgent. I am doing things more on purpose now (being more intentional), and trying to only do the things that really matter.

What about you? Are you on a adventure with purpose? Do you have a God-given mission to accomplish? How is it coming along?

I have noticed something that we all do when we feel we are way off course; we just stop. We give up. We forget. we quit. We ignore. But here’s the deal, start where you are right now … make the first step in the right direction, don’t say,”too much water under the bridge now … no use … too far gone … I’ve already messed it all up” it’s never too late. I know that phrase is often over-used, but it is so very true! Start today!

More and more I give serious thoughts to where God wants me, who God has made me to be and the ultimate purpose for which I was born and ask myself … am I on MY LIFE’S ADVENTURE? Am I fulfilling My Life’s Purpose?