The ancient Greeks believed that we live in a shadow world. Somewhere, there is a perfect world, and this world is an imperfect copy of it. Their belief was that someday, they would live in the perfect world.
That isn't tremendously far from our viewpoint as Christians. We realize that we live in a broken, imperfect world ruptured by sin, a world unlike what God intended. We believe in the Revelation vision that someday we will live in a new heaven and a new earth that will be a perfect world.
In the meantime, here we are. We're trying to follow Christ in an imperfect world. Some would even say it's all darkness; I don't go that far, because we carry an antidote to darkness in each one of us: light.
Jesus told us in Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV), “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."
As we live our seven-day practical faith, let us remember that we are light in the darkness, intended to be seen. Our good deeds in loving our neighbors bring God's light into the daily conflict and confusion, light that reflects God's glory. When you look for it, you see God's light everywhere. It's not all bad news and tragedies and violence and divisive politics. God's people bring beauty and sweetness and healing and joy into the world as well. That should be our daily aim.
When we get discouraged, we can remember another important saying of Jesus from John 16:33 (NIV): “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
We keep waiting for deliverance, but deliverance has already come in the person of Jesus. He doesn't say, "I WILL overcome the world." He instead asserts, "I HAVE overcome the world." We must trust that Jesus is telling us ultimate truth.
So take heart and keep shining your light each day as you enact your seven-day practical faith journey, peacefully secure in the knowledge that such is what Jesus asks of us in the post-deliverance era.
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