Oceans in the Desert

By Kathi Pelton

Jesus came to bring light to a world shrouded in darkness. He brought hope, fulfillment of prophecy and promises, he brought healing, truth, compassion, cleansing, deliverance, provision and salvation. His light and life paid the price for all darkness. Everything he brought provided light. Even when he turned over the tables or confronted the Pharisees— it was to confront darkness with truth and light.

We are to be light in the darkness. But to do so we must become consumed with the true Light. We are called to be a “city set on a hill” and a light that is not hidden or covered. So, here is my concern— has much of the church become more consumed with gazing upon the darkness and fixing their thoughts on the things of this world than beholding the One that provides oil for our lamps?

We can be informed and aware of the darkness and deception that is upon the land and throughout the world but rather than becoming fixated on darkness, why don’t we fill our lamps with oil and become the light that dispels darkness?

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

Even the unbelievers see the darkness (not understanding that their “enlighten” ways are actually darkness in disguise). They long for light but need to see the Church as true light— the city on the hill that lights up the darkness. We need to be more than “those with a different opinion or belief” (more that the “opposition”)— we need to be good news and a light that leads them to a path of life. Jesus is the only one that puts mankind on the “path of life.” Every person born begins a path to death— it is the one thing that mankind gets closer to each day— but Christ provides a different path that leads us closer each day to the promise of eternal life. Human death merely becomes a doorway to greater life.

Many are gazing upon or meditating on the darkness and the “testimonies of evil” that is broadcast over the airways and on social media platforms everyday. If this is where your focus is, then that is what you will become consumed with. Love will begin to fade under the fixation of the oppression of tyranny and hatred, leaving your voice to be a resounding gong in the noise of controversy and opposition. We cannot abandon the banner of love as we hold up a banner of truth.

As we look upon Jesus, beholding who he is and allowing his light to penetrate all the darkness in and around us— only then will we reflect what he came to give— LIGHT! Often the Church becomes so busy trying to expose darkness that we forget to be the light that will expose darkness (often without ever having to address it).

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Philippians 4:8

Fill your thoughts with praiseworthy things. Let the light of Christ show you the “path of life” that will lead you and your family into greater light and life. Go up on that mountaintop and get face to face with the Light of the World so that when you come down your face shines with the reflection of his glory. Become obsessed with light, love and our Lord. Then, “Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!”

We can become the light that is needed to expose the darkness surrounding the unborn, gender confusion, tyranny, injustice, deception and sickness. It begins with gazing upon him, meditating upon his Word, letting his love saturate our souls and filling our lamps with oil. May our light speak louder than our words- our love be more powerful than what we oppose and Christ be seen more than our gifts or our eloquent speech.

“Wrap us in the light and love of our wonderful Savior!”

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