Day 11 in the Wilderness: Don’t be afraid to shine.

“Now it was so, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the Testimony were in Moses’ hand when he came down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him. So when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭34:29-30‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

The Great Fire of Rome happened during the reign of Nero in 64 AD. People still debate the cause of the fire that resulted in a nearly complete destruction of the city. Seeking someone on whom to to place the blame, Nero found the Christians an easy target. Therefore, he tortured and killed many Christians in a variety of horrendous ways. One of the particularly heinous torturous executions involved affixing Christians to poles and covering their bodies with highly flammable materials. They would then set them on fire at the level of their toes, beginning a very slow and torturous death. It is said that Nero used these Christian “candles” to light his imperial garden during some of his festivities.

We can Hardly imagine such atrocities committed against fellow human beings. Sadly, the fact is that atrocities of all sorts have continued to this day to be perpetrated against people for the cause of Christ.

While people all over the world are suffering unspeakable hardship for their faith, many “modern” Christians find it difficult to make it to church on any sort of a regular basis. And, for those who do attend church, many find it difficult to express their faith in front of coworkers, friends, even family members.

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:14-16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Jesus told us that we are to be the light of the world; yet often we shirk from doing what is inconvenient or what might make us “conspicuous” among those who give full vent to their lustful desires, never taking a second thought of the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.

“In [connection with] all this, they [the unbelievers] are resentful and surprised that you do not [think like them, value their values and] run [hand in hand] with them into the same excesses of dissipation and immoral freedom, and they criticize and abuse and ridicule you and make fun of your values. But they will [have to] give an account to Him who is ready to judge and pass sentence on the living and the dead.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭4:4-5‬ ‭AMP‬‬

In times of pressure or stress, it may become even more difficult to be the one who “shines” by going contrary to the group’s response.

Today we see that Moses, having been in the presence of the Lord, has developed a literal glow or light in his facial appearance. This glow was so prominent that the people were afraid of his appearance.

I don’t think we see many cases where people go around literally glowing or being sources of physical light; but we can and must bring the light of God into all situations. We can’t allow the pressure of any sort of crisis or calamity to render the light that is in us as darkness.

Thanks be to God, we aren’t currently being called on to endure the type of torture we saw handed out by Nero. But, we are called on to allow the light of God to be shown through us, even in situations where it would be easier just to blend in. But make no mistake, the kind of light we are called to be still only comes from time spent in the presence of the Lord.

So, if you feel that your light is flickering, almost ready to succumb to the surrounding darkness, get before the Lord. Take time to talk to Him, to read His word, and to meditate on His goodness. In so doing, you will find that the light of the Lord will become manifested in your life and your living, producing a beacon in a dark world.

For today write this in your “wilderness journal”:

Don’t be afraid to shine.

#40daysinthewilderness