“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
“This little light of mine. I’m gonna let it shine. This little light of mine. I’m gonna let it shine….” If you are like me then the tune and words are rolling over in your mind and a flood of distant and not so distant memories are flooding into your head. I love that song! No matter how many times I have sung it, it has never lost its zest or gotten old for me. And when I do sing it or hear it I am reminded of all the camps, vacation bible schools, worship services, and sing-along times with my own children. I even remember all of the hand motions. As I write these words I see myself waving my finger around high in the air, covering it up with my other hand as a pretend bush, and then shouting “no” as I raise my finger in the air signifying my covenant to not hide the light. Sweet fun! I can’t imagine that the author could have even imagined the impact this song would have when he first penned the words back in the 1920s.
Although the song itself is powerful, part of my own faith and God’s work in and around my life, the words became even more powerful the first time I came across the short little passage of scripture I wrote above. In just a two short sentences, Jesus warps up the essential truth of what His presence will do in a single life. Can you see it? Jesus is the light source and He is passing on a piece of that light to you. If you simply “follow” Him, you “will have” the “light of life.” Yes, that is true! The light of the world is yours!
Now don’t get a big head or a God complex when you read the previous words. The light did not originate with you and it is not yours in a possessive way. However, it has been given to you by the power source. He is still the “Light of the world” with or without you, but He wants to give you a part of the light. The problems come when we neglect the truth of scripture.
If you read the text closely again, you will see the truth that following after Jesus, which is your active participation, is what helps you properly receive the gift and get connected to the power source of Light. This is where people most often fail and get drawn off course. We get so possessively enamored with our own piece of the light (Ohhh…shiney!), wander off aimlessly, and ignorantly believing we don't need Him to keep the light charged. The light then begins to dim and we get lost in the darkness that slowly and surely creeps in.
The time tested song serves as a reminder of this scriptural truth: The light is your gift from God and it is your responsibility to let it shine. Claiming the gift is about letting God teach you how to be a caretaker or your light rather than an owner or creator. Letting it shine is less about the public spectacle and more about staying connected to the source and just simply letting the light shine. Allow the song to roll across your lips today and allow that text to swim around in your head. Make a personal commitment to the dual responsibility of taking real possessions of the light and keeping yourself connected. “Let it shine! Let it shine! Let it shine!”
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