Got a Light?
Our friends in the boxing world talk about the need to have your head on a swivel so you do not miss any incoming blows…I feel much the same way these days about all the information coming at us on so many levels. No matter the issue, you can find ‘experts’ who will guarantee that their viewpoint is right, absolutely unassailable, and anyone who dares to contradict them simply wants the world to deteriorate further, putting everyone in grave danger.
Any of us could be excused for wondering which of these sources should get our attention and which guidance we should follow. After all, we DO live in a time where we have more knowledge on pretty much every subject than at any point in human history. We are at the point now, I believe, that you could (and maybe should) make the case that all this knowledge is slowly killing us, because there is something that MUST supplement knowledge if we are to thrive as human beings.
To set the table for this, let’s look at one verse from Psalm 119 (which happens to be the longest chapter of any book in the bible,) Here is verse 105:
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
We have a golden opportunity right now with all our knowledge, but what about the wisdom to know what to DO with all that knowledge?
You see, one of the most unintentional yet tragic actions so many take with respect to reading scripture is to use it as a way to gain knowledge and specific direction when it comes to living as a faithful disciple of Christ. Don’t get me wrong - the bible is full of things we should know and live out in our pursuit of faithful holiness. To look at the Bible solely through this lens is to miss out on a much bigger piece of the story of a disciple - wisdom to go with knowledge.
What the Psalmist is capturing here is a simple yet profound truth that will help us no matter the situation, especially situations in life that are not covered with specific examples in scripture (which is pretty much an overwhelming majority of our lives.)
When we allow ourselves to be immersed in scripture, when we take the time, energy, and effort to know the sacred text (which is NOT the same as simply memorizing bible verses to win a ‘sword drill’), what is happening in us is a matter of transformation.
We see throughout the Bible the trials and tribulations of those who have gone before us in our calling to navigate life in this world as those faithful to God.
We see that we are not the first to deal with pretty much any circumstance (for example, although they never dealt with the reality that nuclear war is possible) but we are given a glimpse into the mindset of God and the faithful when it comes to dealing with things that have the capacity to inflict unimaginable pain and destruction in the world.
The question the Psalmist leaves for us today is simply this, “How is God’s word a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path?” In other words, how is our life reflecting our reading, hearing, and understanding of scripture so that we might engage in a way that brings glory to God? How do we draw upon the inspiration of scripture and the wisdom we draw from the sacred text to help us navigate life?
Oh, and to answer the question from the title of this message, yes, you do have a light. What we all must discern, though, is what light is lighting our paths as we go through life? What light are we shining for others in our lives?
Grace & Peace,
Lamar