Photo by A-Giau 2004 |
I dreamed that I would be performing a dance solo in a
large theatre. As part of the costume, I had designed a large, elaborate
headdress created from solar panels arranged in an intricate pattern. My plan
was that when the bright stage lighting hit the solar panels, it would generate
enough power to propel me upward so that I would be airborne and I could dance
in the air!
But on opening night, much to my dismay, the bright lights
illuminated me and my headdress, but I remained earthbound. My dance was
limited to what I could do in my own power, and I was unable to fly.
Despite my disappointment and embarrassment, I wasn’t ready
to give up on my creation, so I went outdoors to a brilliant sunny day, taking
time to absorb the golden rays into my headdress. But once again in the dream,
my plan was foiled, for the weight of the headdress was so heavy that whatever
energy was stored in the solar panels could not overcome the pull of gravity on
my body.
As I awoke and considered the symbolism of the dream, I
realized that the dance represented the opportunity each of us is given to
perform on life’s stage, with that opportunity as fleeting as a solo in the
spotlight (James 4:14; John 9:4;
Job 14:1).
In our physical world, energy from the sun can be absorbed
by photovoltaic cells in solar panels and stored in batteries for later use as
light energy, kinetic energy, or other forms of power. But my plan to use the
headdress to overcome gravity was flawed because I was attempting to channel
energy from artificial light rather than from the sun.
In the spiritual as well as in the physical realm, there is only One Source of true light,
and that is the Lord Jesus Christ (John
1:9). He is the Creator Who brought light into existence with the words
of His mouth (Genesis 1:3-5). His
light has shined on those walking in darkness, to free us from death (Isaiah 9:2) and give sinful man the
peace of being reconciled to Holy God (Luke 1:79).
Without Jesus Christ, we can do nothing (John 15:5). No efforts of our own
can earn our way to Heaven (Ephesians
2:8-9) or pull us up out of the miry pit of sin (Psalm 40:2). No person, relationship, false god, human
construct or natural wonder can provide saving grace (1 John 5:21; Acts 4:12; John 14:6). In fact,
none of these can provide any meaningful power at all unless Jesus Christ Himself,
the Source of all power, empowers them (Matthew
28:18).
In the dream, my plan to utilize the sun’s energy rather
than depending on artificial light was a step in the right direction. However,
I could not rise up from the earth because the
headdress was too heavy. Even once we are saved by our faith in the death,
burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1
Corinthians 15:1-4) as the only Way to Heaven (John 14:6), we may not soar to the heights He has planned
for us if we become burdened by sins and weights (Hebrews 12:1).
Our earthly body groans to be freed from its weight and to
soar into the heavens when Jesus Christ returns for His children, to meet with
us in the air (Romans 8:16-23; 1
Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-57). Then we will
have a glorified body (1 Corinthians
15:35-50), like His, free from the restraints of sin, death, and perhaps
even gravity!
Jesus Christ is the Light of the world (John 8:12; 9:5), and once
we are saved, He asks us to be His light in the world (Matthew 5:14) by channeling His true light (John 12:46). Like living water
and blessings, we absorb His light and allow it not only to empower us, but to
flow through us and bless others (John
7:38).
Because God is light (1
John 1:5), we as His children are to walk in the light, sharing His
glorious Gospel (2 Corinthians 4:4-6).
Every day the born-again Christian (John
3:3-8) fights a battle between the
Holy Spirit living in our heart from the moment we are saved (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13;
4:30), and our old sin nature (1
Corinthians 3:1-4; Romans 6:6; 8:3-14).
The new creation (2
Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15) wants to yield to the Spirit
and follow His light, sharing that light with others (Philippians 2:15; Ephesians 5:8-14). But our fleshly
desires pull us in the opposite direction, toward darkness (John 3:19; Romans 13:12).
Yet we are the children of light, and the children of the day, not of the night
nor of darkness (1 Thessalonians 5:5-8).
The day when Christ appears in all His glory grows closer
with each passing moment. We therefore must put on His armor of light, abandon
the works of darkness, and spread His Word, for the day approaches when our
work on earth will be over and it will be too late to help others (Romans 13:12; John 9:4).
May we leave behind the works of darkness, set aside the weights
and sins that are hindering our Christian life, and channel the true light of
Jesus Christ as our sole power source. Without Him, we remain earthbound and
can do nothing, but with Him, we are elevated to heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3; 2:6), and
all things are possible! (Matthew 19:26)