Let Your Light Shine!

I came across this inspiring thought in a great book. I thought I should share it.....

“So God can use any kind of personality, any kind of person; He only made one of you, and He has a plan for what you will be. The one light of Christ is like a flame shining out through millions of lanterns. But each lantern is made of different colored glass. You are the only person God made who is exactly like you; and if you fail to be filled with the light of Christ, you will eternally deprive the kingdom of God of one particular shade of radiance.” Frederica Mathewes-Green in “The Jesus Prayer, The Ancient Prayer that Tunes the Heart to God”

As I thought about this again I was reminded of the University of Colorado (where I received my BA) official seal which bears the motto, “Let your light shine” honoring the call of Christians to shine as the light of Christ. As stated in the University’s history, “ In 1893, University President James Baker stated, "The new University seal bears the Greek Motto chosen from the volume of Christian Teachings to mean `Let your Light Shine'." This is a clear indication of the open acknowledgement of Christianity in our nation’s history even within state governed and funded institutions. So what happened??????


In a nut-shell I suppose we, as fallen human beings claiming our God-given freedom, have chosen to dim the light of Christ in our lives. Using Frederica Mathewes-Green’s image, we have changed our glass from the color the God chose for us to our own design altering how the light of Christ is experienced in our lives. There can really be no explanation as to the change in our willingness to acknowledge our Christianity in the public square. This has been accomplished, at the pleasing of the devil, by our slowly relinquishing our light.

Our Lord said, “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.” (Mathew 5.14-15) I fear we have indeed placed our light, if it still shines at all in our life, under a bushel for the sake of not offended others. In turn we have offended God. Let YOUR light shine!