We have the opportunity to shine in the darkness all around us, but too many Christians live with a “seasonal only” attitude.
I have always loved lights, flames, bonfires and fireworks. Especially sparklers. There is just something about a stick that has swirling sparks of fire coming of the end. I think it’s about the closest thing to a magic wand out there for us fairy godmother hopefuls. Mine seems to be lost, but that’s a different blog. Seriously though, really watch a sparkler. It’s pretty amazing.
The saddest thing to me about fireworks though is the fact that they are mostly seasonal. You don’t find too many people putting on a multi-colored shows every night of the year. They usually come in swarms on the Fourth of July or New Years Eve, but then they fizzle out and are put on the shelf until the next celebration.
Maybe it’s because I love to see lights so much that I notice how little fireworks are really a part of our everyday life. Yes I’m aware how annoying it could get every single day, but as I ponder the life of a firework I can’t help but think how much they reflect the Christian walk sometimes.
We have the opportunity to shine in the darkness all around us, but too many Christians live with a “seasonal only” attitude when it comes to spreading the good news of Christ. We have a momentary spark of life and then sadly, we burn out. But what a beautiful picture it would be if Christ followers looked like sparklers on the Fourth of July—beautiful sparkling reflections of the light within us.
According to Wikipedia a sparkler is defined as, “a type of hand-held firework that burns slowly while emitting colored flames, sparks, and other effects.” And what are we as Christians but hand held vessels burning full of light and emitting sparks and affecting the world around us. Or at least we should be living that way.
Jesus said it this way, “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father” (Matthew 5:14-16 NLT).
As we celebrate independence as a country, remember to celebrate the freedom we find in Christ everyday as His children. We are free from bondage and sin and our old lives. In Him we are made new and complete. And as you watch man light up the sky, challenge yourself to follow in suit. Don’t live a life where the light has too little of an impact or is only occasional…we need to burst full of color and life everyday about what Jesus has done in our lives. You never know where our flames could land if we choose to burn that bright. No matter who you are, where you are or what you’re doing, you can find ways to make a spark.
Thank you to all who have served to keep our country safe and who fight for the independence we so freely enjoy each and every day. Thank you to the Savior of the World who defined freedom in an entirely new way on a hill called Calvary. We honor you! Happy Fourth of July!!! Go USA!!
Let Freedom Ring—Only Hope
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