Light Up the Room!

 

                                                                                                    

Image generated by ChatGPT

I had a dream in which my husband and I had moved to another town because of a potential job opportunity I thought might be open there, but it fell through. As we were walking down the street considering our options, we spotted a small art museum housed in a historic home and decided to visit.

A caretaker greeted us at the door and showed us into the main gallery. It was lit only by a single skylight, with sunbeams filtering down from the sky and illuminating the dust particles in its path. A patch of light in the center of the floor under the skylight was warm and inviting, in contrast to the shadows obscuring the artwork on the walls.

We stepped closer to the paintings, including some Old Masters and some by artists unfamiliar to us, and were amazed by their extraordinary craftsmanship and attention to detail. Yet the room illumination was so low that we practically had to be on top of the paintings to appreciate them, and even then we felt we were missing out on what could be an even more memorable experience.

We asked the caretaker if it would be possible to turn on the lights, and he explained that artificial lighting could damage the masterpieces. To our surprise, he knew that I was looking for a job, and offered me a position as a gallery guide, to answer questions and highlight various features of each artwork for visiting guests.

It sounded like an interesting opportunity. Unexpectedly, I heard myself asking, “What is the dress code?”

“Flower,” he replied.

When I asked him what he meant, he explained that because no artificial light sources were permitted in the gallery, the guides had to be brightly dressed in vibrant colors or floral patterns. They would stand in the center of the floor under the skylight so that the guests could easily spot them, and so that they would still be clearly visible as they walked to each painting.

As I awoke and considered the symbolism of the dream, I was reminded of a devotional by Paul Tripp we had read the previous day, He mentioned the beautiful spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:1-4) we receive once we are saved by trusting in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) as the only Way to Heaven (John 14:6).

Although we receive these gifts at the moment of salvation, they are not always visible to others because we quench or grieve the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19; Ephesians 4:30), hindering His light from shining in our hearts. Tripp likened this to a gallery of paintings once the switch is flipped off – they are still there, but invisible.

My dream seemed to extend the metaphor. I was looking for a new job, which in my stage of life would refer to a ministry opportunity rather than to a paid position. Yet, as I discovered recently when the Lord called my husband and me to open a new church, we must be receptive to His lead for such an opportunity, even if it takes us by surprise (Proverbs 3:5-6). We must follow His call and not be stuck in our own preconceived ideas or reluctant to let go of a ministry that has already run its course.

In the dream we had moved to a new city and I was offered an unexpected position, representing the new phase of ministry God has called us to in opening a new church. The gallery within a house may symbolize the gifts of the Spirit God has planted in our heart.

For these gifts to reach others, they must be illuminated by His perfect light, not by the artificial, harsh, tawdry light coming from the world. (Imagine the piercing lights of an interrogation room, or the dizzying neon signs clamoring for attention on Times Square, as a contrast to the gentle golden rays of sunrise over the ocean).

Once we soak in His perfect light, as represented by standing under the skylight in the gallery, we can then let His light shine through us so we can guide others (John 1:9; Matthew 5:14). We may then help them discover the gifts of the Spirit God longs to place or has already placed in their hearts, so that they too can illuminate the path for others.

In the dream, we had to go very close to the paintings to catch even a glimpse of their true beauty. When people are in darkness, we need to bring His light to where they are rather than demand that they seek us out. We can’t just sit back in the safety and comfort of our sanctuary! We must seek out lost souls in their own environment before we can see their true potential, once they are saved, as ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20), each with a unique purpose God planned for them since before the beginning of time (Ephesians 2:10).

The unusual dress code required for guides in the dream I believe represents the righteousness of Christ with which we are clothed once we are saved (Romans 3:22). The saint’s robe of righteousness is white (Revelation 19:8), for purity, but white light can be diffracted into all colors of the spectrum. At the moment of salvation, the believer is clothed in a robe of righteousness compared to a bride adorned with jewels (Isaiah 61:10), which suggests gems of brilliant hues.

The bright, colorful clothing required of guides in the dream may represent each believer’s uniqueness, and yet our incorporation into the body of Christ (Romans 12:5), which is His bride, the church (Revelation 21:2). As a flower uses light from the sun to grow and produce a vibrantly hued blossom, every believer uses His light to bloom into their full potential.

Just as Moses’ countenance glowed when he had been in God’s presence (Exodus 34:29-30,35), we should wear His imprint on our faces. His Spirit shining through us attracts others to us, even though they may not know exactly why. His mark on us should be as easily seen as a brightly colored dress.

In the dream there were some Old Master paintings I recognized from having seen photos of them in art books, and others that were equally beautiful yet unknown to me. In Heaven I believe we will instantly recognize saints well known to us from Scripture, such as the apostle Paul, even though we have never seen a picture or read a description of his appearance. At the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ, Peter knew that he was in the presence of Moses and Elijah (Matthew 17:1-5), even though they died millennia before Peter was even born.

Yet I believe another joy in Heaven will be to meet believers we have never heard of before, even though we may have planted or watered the seed that ultimately led to the fruit of their salvation. For example, someone may have been saved through the witness of a missionary we helped support, and in glory we will fully appreciate the beauty of their transformed life.

While awaiting the Rapture and these precious encounters, may we bask in His true light so that we can be His lights in the world, illuminating the path for others!    

Copyright 2026 Laurie Collett

Lights

Photo by Kristof Zerbe 2014

To cap off the holiday season, my family and I recently visited Christmas Town at Busch Gardens Tampa. While exploring all the animal exhibits, walking through the festively decorated park, and watching the entertaining shows, we were eagerly anticipating sunset, when the park’s main holiday attraction would come to life.

Lights! As we had learned from the trivia quiz preceding the ice show, workers began stringing lights from trees, archways, and buildings starting in June! Good thing, because there were more than 3 million lights, covering 60 miles if lined up end to end!

Our viewing of lights began auspiciously with the Serengeti Light Show, a spectacular display on a huge tree-shaped screen and on the neighboring buildings of what seemed like hundreds of thousands of lights, all changing colors and patterns in synchrony to Christmas music. Impressed and delighted, we were ready for more!

With all the exercise from exploring throughout the day, we had also worked up quite an appetite! So we began the long trek to Christmas Town, not only to view the lights but to sample the delectable treats from various food vendors that opened only after dark.

But as we approached the entrance, the path grew dim, and we wondered what had happened to all the lights we had been promised. The main gate to Christmas Town had been barred shut, and a park officer informed us that it would be closed all evening because of a power outage!

Disappointed, we made our way back to the tram taking us to the parking lot. As we walked to our car, however, we were unexpectedly blessed to see the true star of the show – the moon!

On that night was a supermoon, also known as a Wolf Moon, which was particularly large due to the moon illusion, in which low-hanging moons appear oversized. It was veiled in wispy clouds that gave it a silvery aura, with the moon’s familiar landmarks alternately highlighted or shrouded, depending on how the clouds danced in the changing winds.

The experience reminded me that all of man’s efforts pale in comparison to God’s majesty, creativity, power and handiwork (Psalm 19:1). Because we are made in His image (Genesis 1:26), we too are creative and productive, with feats of ingenuity producing artificial beauty like that in the light show.

But none of this is possible unless God allows it, for without Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5). Because we live in a sin-cursed world (Genesis 3:14-19), all it takes is a switch malfunction or tripped circuit breaker or some other mechanical failure for all of man’s brilliant ideas and hard work to malfunction. Often the failure stems from our own mind, body, or will (Psalm 73:26).

But God never fails (Deuteronomy 31:6; Joshua 23:14). He consistently and faithfully regulates the rising and setting of the sun and moon, the circling of the planets in their orbits, and the movements of the stars and galaxies across the universe (Psalm 19:1-6; 104). That night, sadly invisible to us because of the clouds, the supermoon was accompanied by a particularly luminous planet Jupiter and the constellation Orion, which would have been a spectacular celestial display under better viewing conditions.

Even though we couldn’t see Jupiter and Orion, we knew that God had placed them there. Because we walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7), we know He is working all things together for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28), even when we can’t see the road map or the destination of the journey He has planned for us since before time began (2 Timothy 1:9). It is enough to hear His still, small voice (1 Kings 19:12) guiding our next step, just as He did for Abram when he took the first step of faith to the Promised Land (Genesis 12:1-3).

The moon’s brilliant illumination that night also reminded me that we have no life or light of our own, but only that which God has given us (John 1:1-9). The moon itself is a mass of stone cold, dark rock. But when the sun sets and shines on it, sunlight reflected from the moon lights up the dark night.

Only Jesus Christ is the true Light (John 1:9), the Light of the World (John 8:12; 9:5). Once we are saved by trusting in His death, burial and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) as the only Way to Heaven (John 14:6), He gives us the privilege of being His lights in this dark, sin-cursed world (Matthew 5:14).

May His light in and on us shine so brightly before men that they can see the true Light and find the Way to His saving grace and to eternal life!

Copyright 2026 Laurie Collett

We Shall Be As He Is!

 

Photo by John Trainor 2013

Have you ever seen people fold dollar bills or bills of higher denomination so that the President’s portrait or the landmark building on the reverse side metamorphoses into a mushroom or some other image? It’s just a cheap parlor trick, but it does remind us of the truth that what we see may be a distortion of what truly is.

I recently had a dream like that. In the dream, I was viewing photographs of myself from college years and beyond. A software program displayed the images on my computer screen, at first chronologically and one by one, then in kaleidoscopic collages with the individual images rapidly changing in size, position, and juxtaposition.

The flirtatious glance of the young woman seated on the bronze tiger statue at Princeton gave way to the weary, sleep-deprived, and overworked frown of the medical intern. Then the intense, longing look of new love, and the radiant, joyful smile just before the preacher said “You may now kiss the bride.” The elated grin just after delivery, snuggling our precious infant son in my arms.

Images of my face then started to blend with those of my loved ones – my husband, our son, my parents, the Pastor who baptized us once we were saved, my maid of honor whom I led to the Lord -- and it seemed that each of these faces had left their mark on my own. Still more images -- of worry over daily struggles; celebration at holidays and birthdays; grief at funerals; anticipation as our son, now a handsome young man, strode masterfully across the stage to receive his college diploma with highest honors.

With the passing years, my face began to take on the inevitable changes due to the curse of sin, sorrow, and aging traced all the way back to the rebellion of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3). “Laugh lines” that aren’t so funny, and “lines of expression,” even though I know my eyes and mouth would be much more expressive without them.

And then I saw the most amazing image of all! With deft artistry, the software rapidly sorted through all the images, selecting part of a smiling lip from one photo, a twinkle in the eye from another, a few pixels here and a few pixels there, until I saw a completely different representation of “my” countenance.

It was the beautiful face of an innocent young child, yet timeless and ageless thanks to an overlay of wisdom, completion, and maturity. It radiated love, peace and joy. It was a compilation of all my best features, feelings, and experiences, blended by the Master into a unique representation of who I would one day become in Him.

I awoke from the dream longing for the glorified body (1 Corinthians 15:40-49) He has promised each of His children – those who have been saved by faith in His death, burial and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) as the only Way to Heaven (John 14:6). That body will never age, feel pain or sorrow, get sick or die.

When He returns for us at the Rapture, we will be instantly changed to be like Him, and we will meet Him and one another in the air, never again to leave His radiant presence (1 Corinthians 15:51-54; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). Only then will we experience true and eternal joy (1 Peter 1:8), love (1 Corinthians 13:13), and peace (Philippians 4:7).

Each of us will be recognizable to one another, perhaps not through our appearance, but in some way through an amalgamation of our most positive and distinctive qualities and experiences, as in my dream. The resurrected Christ did not lose the nail prints in His hands and feet, nor His spear wound (John 20:27), for these were a permanent emblem of the sacrifice He so lovingly and completely made for us.

When Peter saw Moses and Elijah glorified with Christ at His transfiguration, he instantly knew who they were (Matthew 17:1-4), even though they had died more than hundreds of years before, and he would have no way of recognizing them except in the supernatural.

I believe that when we see our loved ones in Christ in Heaven, we will immediately recognize them even though they will no longer bear the scars of sickness and aging. Regardless of how young or old we are when we go home to Him, we will be youthful, vibrant, and radiant like the risen Christ.

I believe we will still show the distinctive features of our life story, experiences, and earthly relationships, yet transformed by our new purity of heart and absence of sin. We will be changed so much that God will give each of us a new name (Revelation 2:17). The end result may be a face that glows with innocence and His holiness, but that is ageless and timeless because it belongs to a soul transformed by God’s wisdom (Romans 12:2).

This dream also reminded me that God works all things together for our good (Romans 8:28), texturing our countenance, our lives, and our eternal being by allowing trials as well as blessings to shape us, bringing us closer to and more like Him in faith. Like a Master Sculptor seeing Michelangelo’s David in a block of marble, God sees in each of us the potential for a unique, perfect, glorious being truly reflecting His image. He created us in His image (Genesis 1:26-27), and though sin has disfigured us here on earth, one day we shall be as He is! (1 John 3:2)

Slowly and deliberately He chisels our features with the suffering He allows in our life to conform us to His image (Philippians 3:10). Gently He softens the rough edges with the Godly friends, teachers, and pastors He directs to our path (Proverbs 27:17). Faithfully He lights the fire of the Holy Spirit shining through our eyes and glowing in our faces so that we can be the light of the world (Matthew 5:14; Philippians 2:15), just as He is the One True Light (John 1:9; 8:12; 9:5; 12:46).

Until we receive our new, timeless countenance, may we let His light illuminate our faces and see others as He sees us, each with the potential to be like Him in glory!

© 2015 Laurie Collett

Reposted from the archives

Lamprey: Lamp of the King

 

As my husband and I walked along the beach, we spotted a man standing by the waves, staring down into his cupped hands.

Our approach evidently interrupted his deep meditation, as he looked up and asked, “Are you folks from around here?”

“Well, we spend a lot of time here,” my husband answered. “How can we help you?”

He again peered into his hands, directing our attention to a tiny creature swimming in his palm. It was about 1 inch long, and narrow like a worm, silvery and translucent. It had two eyes, each placed laterally on either side of its head, and seven black dots on each side of the body in a straight line behind the eye.

“Any idea what this is?” he asked. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Sadly, we hadn’t either, so we weren’t able to shed much light on the matter.

“One of God’s creatures,” my husband said. The man smiled. We continued our brisk morning walk and turned around a short while later to head back to the condo, but the man had disappeared, and we did not see him again during our stay.

After returning to our home a few days later, I picked up a magazine at random from an untouched pile of mail. It fell open to a picture of exactly what we had seen – a lamprey, apparently newly hatched given its small size. I believe that with God, there are no coincidences, so I resolved to investigate the matter further.

The article in which the photo appeared was from a creation science magazine, citing the lamprey as an example of a jawless fish (Agnatha). The seven gill slits, corresponding to the seven dots visible behind the eye, are separated from each other internally by cartilaginous arches, which are uniquely hinged and engineered skeletal features allowing the gills to pull in oxygenated water so that the lamprey can “breathe.”

There are no transitional forms linking the lamprey to jawed fishes or to armored jawless fish, and all three types of fishes are equally complex, supporting intelligent design of all three types at the same time and arguing against evolution. As is the case so often in nature, whether in a vast galaxy or a diminutive sea creature, God’s creation declares His glory, wisdom and creativity (Psalm 19:1; Romans 1:20).

So what might God be saying to me through this little lamprey, revealed to us by divine appointment?  I learned that the etymology of “lamprey” is obscure, but it may derive from the old French words meaning “lick rock,” referring to the raspy tongue of this parasite that allows it to attach to and feed off other fishes. So this worm-like parasite seems ignoble at best, much like man (Job 17:14; 25:6) in his unregenerated, sin-cursed state (Romans 3:10-23) before he is saved by trusting in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) as the only Way to Heaven (John 14:6).

When Christ died to pay our sin debt, the Holy, sinless Lamb of God took on the whole weight of all of mankind’s sin, past, present and future (Hebrews 9:28; 2 Corinthians 5:21). He was so disfigured by this putrid burden that all were revolted by His appearance (Isaiah 53:2-12), and even His Holy Father could not bear to look at Him (Psalm 22:1; Matthew 27:46). The King of Kings, Lord of Heaven became as a lowly worm (Job 25:6; Psalm 22:6), just to save us from the penalty of sin while we were yet His enemies (Romans 3:25; 5:6-11).

Before I researched the etymology of “lamprey,” which turns out to be unclear anyway, the word brought to mind a combination of two words: the English word “lamp,” and “rey,” the Spanish word for “king.” God’s Word is a lamp unto our feet (Psalm 119:105), and the Lord Himself is our lamp, lighting the darkness (2 Samuel 22:29). God’s commandment is a lamp, showing us the way we should go (Proverbs 6:23). His salvation is likened to a burning lamp (Isaiah 62:1). The prophet Daniel’s vision of Jesus Christ revealed His eyes to be like lamps of fire (Daniel 10:6).

So “lamprey” reminded me of the Lamp (Word, commandment, law) of the King, Who is our Lord Jesus Christ! (1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 17:14; 19:16). He will reign over His coming kingdom with perfect righteousness, justice and peace (2 Timothy 4:1; 2 Peter 1:11, Revelation 1:5, 11:15, 12:10).

And yet, born-again believers (John 3:3-8) could also be considered to be lamps of the King, for Jesus said that we are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). He is the true Light (John 1:9), and once we are saved, His light shines through us and is reflected from us.

The same morning that I spotted the magazine article, one of our daily devotional readings was about the need to keep our lamps filled with oil and burning brightly as we await the return of Our Lord and King. Like the wise virgins whose lamps were prepared (Matthew 25:1-13), believers should be filled with the Holy Spirit, ready for Christ’s imminent return for His Bride, or the Church, at the Rapture (1 Corinthians 15:51-57; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

That same afternoon I listened to a prophecy TV broadcast, which “just happened” to compare the Rapture to the Galilean wedding tradition. Like the betrothed Hebrew bride, we do not know the day nor the hour when Our Lord will return for us (Matthew 24:36), flying us up to His Father’s house for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb! (Revelation 19:9).

The number seven in Scripture is God’s perfect number of completion, preceding the number eight, which marks new beginnings (much like the seven notes of the musical scale, with the eighth marking the beginning of a new octave). The seven gill slits of the lamprey, appearing as seven dots behind the eye, is a reminder of God’s perfection, with the eight “dot” surrounded by the silvery orb of the eye suggesting the new beginning we have in Christ.

The seven dots also suggest Christ’s warnings and encouragement to the seven churches, depicted in Revelation as seven lamps, or candlesticks He holds in His right hand (Revelation 1:20; 4:5). Those exhortations include not forgetting our first love, Who is Christ; rejecting false doctrine; seeking spiritual rather than material blessings; and being on fire for Christ with zeal rather than indifference (Revelation 2-3).

God prescribed that His tabernacle should be lit with seven gold lamps (Exodus 25:37; 37:23), to be filled continually with olive oil (Exodus 27:20; Leviticus 24:2-4), which is a foreshadowing of how Jesus would be crushed for our sins like an olive put through the press to extract the life-giving oil. At the Garden of Gethsemane, which means “olive press,” He agonized so fervently in prayer over His imminent work on the cross that He sweat drops of blood (Luke 22:44).

It is amazing how God speaks to His children through His creation, and through divine appointments. May we always be attuned to His still, small voice! (1 Kings 19:12). May we follow His Word and law and keep our lamps burning brightly, radiating His Holy Spirit as we await the return of our Bridegroom and King!

© 2021 Laurie Collett

Reposted from the archives

In the Dark

 

Photo by Derek Dye 2020

As we anxiously awaited the landfall of Hurricane Milton in Florida on October 9, my family and I were gathered around the TV in our living room, appreciating the knowledgeable, fully illustrated commentary of Denis Phillips, the meteorologist we consider most trustworthy. We huddled together comfortably in our warm, fuzzy robes and slippers, hearing the reassuring hum of the air conditioning, refrigerator, and air purifiers we had cranked up to keep the temperature low. We had anticipated that we might lose power, and it was unseasonably warm outside, even for Florida.

The motion sensor light outside the sliding glass door was constantly triggered by a hibiscus branch whipping about in the wind, illuminating the branch as if it were a floating cloud of plasma or ghostly apparition. Despite the storm raging outside, the familiar sight of our furnishings and autumn decorations helped us feel anchored in our surroundings and in the comforts of home.

After a few transient flickers and dimming of the lights, Denis suddenly stopped mid-sentence, the colorful radar map disappeared, and we lost all power. In an instant, we went from sensory overload to being in the dark. Now that the TV and appliances were off, and we couldn’t see outside, the sounds of every branch scraping or falling on the roof were magnified. Even the usual creaks in the house were amplified, taking on an ominous significance.

Thankfully, we had each other’s company, voices, and dim light and shadows cast by flashlights. Praise God, we discovered by the light of day that we had no structural damage to the house! But as I write this, eight days later, we are still without power and in the dark, at least at night. What a reminder not to take for granted all the many blessings God provides for us each day! (Ephesians 1:3). As the old saying goes, “What if we had today only those things we thanked God for yesterday?”

This experience of being in physical darkness brings to mind what it was like to be in spiritual darkness (Ephesians 6:12), before I knew Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior by trusting in His death, burial and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15: 1-4) as the only Way to Heaven (John 14:6).

Without electricity, we stumble in dimly lit rooms, trip over even familiar objects, fuss over a can of Sterno for what seems like forever to heat a small cup of coffee, and try to coordinate our chores with whatever daylight is available in different rooms. We must be careful where we place our keys, flashlight or other necessary items, because if we forget, we are unlikely to spot them later! We are uncomfortable in the Florida heat and humidity, take cold (very brief!) showers, and read our Bible more, by flashlight, instead of watching TV (an unexpected blessing!).

Without the white noise generated by appliances, the silence is deafening. I can hear the Brownian motion, that strange vibration of air molecules colliding with one another. “Cleaning” in the dark is an adventure! Working by indirect daylight, I finally thought I had cleaned our glass-topped dining table, only to find more streaks and smudges as the sun changed its position relative to the window.

Before I was saved (Isaiah 45:22; John 3:17; 10:9; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 16:31; Romans 5:9-10; 10:9,13), I was lost, not knowing what direction my life should go, falling into the devil’s traps more often than not (2 Timothy 2:26; Ephesians 6:11), and wearing myself out by trying to do everything in my own flesh (Galatians 6:8), instead of relying on the One Who has infinite power, wisdom, and knowledge (Revelation 15:3; Psalm 139). I was never satisfied, even when things were going well by worldly standards.

Although well-educated and informed, I could not hear or understand Him, for preaching and Scripture seem foolish and antiquated to the unsaved (1 Corinthians 1:18-23). I kept seeking spiritual wisdom and learning about different religions, but I was never able to come to a knowledge of the truth (2 Timothy 3:7).  I was vaguely aware of my shortcomings, but when I tried to “clean up my act,” I lacked the spiritual discernment to know that only the shed blood of Jesus Christ can wash away my sins (Revelation 1:5).

When we had electric power, a simple flick of a switch or a pressed button lit up a room, cooled the house, cooked our food, or opened the gateway to knowledge and communication opportunities on the Internet. Now that I know the Light of the World (John 1:9), I am His light in the world (Matthew 5:14), and His Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path (Psalm 119:105). No matter what the ambient sounds, or lack thereof, I can hear His still, small voice guiding me (1 Kings 19:12), and I can be still in the raucous din of the world and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10).

But as we are reminded, electric power is fickle, and despite being instantly available when working, it is totally inaccessible when storms damage the lines or transformers. Praise God, His power is unlimited, instantaneous, and always immediately available 24/7 to His children who call on Him in prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

We continue to pray for all those affected by the devastation of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and that power and Internet will be restored at our house, which we know is but a small need compared to what many others face. But God encourages us to bring all our prayer requests to Him, no matter how large or small, and we have faith that He is working all things together for our ultimate good and for His glory! (Romans 8:28).

We praise and thank Him for the safety of our family, loved ones, and church family and for preserving our homes. May those in physical darkness have electricity restored, and more importantly, may those in spiritual darkness come to know Him before it is too late! May we who are His light in the world let His Light reflect from us to others, so that they too may see, know and trust Him!

John 12:46: I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

© 2024 Laurie Collett

Light In The Storm

 

Photo by Alvesgaspar2009

My heart is heavy today for all those affected by catastrophic Hurricane Helene, especially for those who lost loved ones. Our beach home, which inspired the post below (from the archives), has extensive damage, the extent of which is still unclear, just as we had finally completed repairs from Hurricane Ian, which struck nearly exactly two years ago.  But we thank God in all things (Ephesians 5:20), despite our loss and the far worse losses of our neighbors in Florida and northward. We thank Him for sparing our lives and home and the lives and homes of our loved ones, for the peace that passes all understanding (Phillipians 4:7), for the joy in His salvation (Psalm 35:9), and for the reassurance that He works all things together for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28). Prayers for all those affected by this devastating storm, for grace, strength, peace and comfort.

  

As my husband and I sat overlooking the beach while reading our morning devotionals, we could sense the storm brewing. The breeze was strengthening, allowing a pair of ospreys to soar effortlessly through the darkening sky. Waves lapping the shore began to

 chop and churn, and the usually pale blue, glassy sea became rough and darkened with deep purple blots like ink stains under the gathering clouds.

I spotted an unusual cloud formation that resembled a rocky cliff with a sharp drop-off, abutting what looked like an immense boulder. In the cleft between the boulder and the cliff was a human figure, huddled in a fetal position. Standing on the cliff was an angel with outstretched arms, as if protecting the person below.

As we watched the clouds change shape in the shifting winds, we witnessed an amazing transformation. The human figure looked up at the angel and straightened up, while still trapped between the cliff and the boulder. Although the angel began to recede into the distance, the sun’s rays, previously hidden, began to illuminate the human figure so that it shone brightly in the otherwise dark sky.

How often do we feel as if we’re trapped between a rock and a hard place? Like the psalmist David, who hid in caves as he fled for his life, we may feel like we’ve fallen into a pit (Psalm 40:2), a deep crevice flanked by impenetrable rock, and an impossibly long way up to safety. We can’t pull ourselves from it or climb out in our own strength, and we are reminded that God is our only hope (Psalm 38:15; 42:5,11; 71:5).

David wrote that the evils surrounding him and the consequences of his own sins were so great that he could not even look up, and his heart failed him. But God alone could save him through His tender mercies, loving kindness and truth, which continually preserved and delivered him (Psalm 40:11-17).

Praise God that He is our refuge in the storm, and that in our moments of deepest despair, He is with us, for He will never leave us nor forsake us! (Hebrews 13:5). He has not promised to remove us from our trials, for they accomplish His purpose for us in ways we cannot begin to understand, as they did with Job (Job 1:21).

God did not answer the apostle Paul’s repeated prayers to remove his thorn in the flesh, for His grace is sufficient in our trials and His strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). His ways and thoughts are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:9), and we can have faith in His infinite love, power and wisdom to always work all things together for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28).

While still trapped in the rocks, the human figure in the clouds looked up, straightened up, and shone brightly. When in trouble, we should look up to the heavens, for God is the source of our help (Psalm 121:1). We must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus! He alone enables us to stand fast (1 Corinthians 16:13; Galatians 5:1; Philippians 1:27) and straight in the storm, and to shine brightly with His reflected light to be a beacon and encouragement to others (John 1:9; 8:12; Philippians 2:15).

Recently our Pastor has been preaching from Scripture verses that comfort us in times of trouble. There are no coincidences or accidents with God.

At the very time we were at the beach watching this majestic demonstration of His handiwork (Psalm 19:1-6; Romans 1:20), His Word spoke to us through the devotionals we were reading. One of these referenced Iguazu Falls, a stunning chain of 275 waterfalls in South America, bordered by a wall on which is inscribed the words “God is always greater than all our troubles,” under Psalm 93:4: The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.

The brightness of the human figure enfolded in the rocks also reminded me that in times of trouble, God hides (Psalm 32:7) and protects us within Himself, in His pavilion and in the secret of His tabernacle, and that He will set us upon a rock (Psalm 27:5). That Rock is the sure foundation (Luke 6:48; Matthew 16:18) of His Son Jesus Christ, Who saves and gives eternal life (John 3:16) to all who trust in His death, burial and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) as the only Way to Heaven (John 14:6).

May we trust in Christ alone, and in His mercy, for He is our Rock, salvation, defense, glory, strength and refuge! (Psalm 62:5-8; 59:16-17; 94:22)

His protection and guidance from our enemies, threats and dangers (Psalm 32:8) enables us through faith to lift our head above these trials, to seek His face, offer sacrifices of joy and sing praises to Him (Psalm 27:6-8). Praise God that He is our refuge, strength, and very present help in trouble, so that we have no reason to fear even if the earth crumbles, the mountains explode and are carried into the roaring sea (Psalm 46:1-3).

Even in our darkest storms, may His light shine through us so that we can be a beacon of hope to a lost and dying world!

© 2017 Laurie Collett

Edited, expanded and reposted from the archives

Stargazing

 

The more you look, the more you see. This thought entered my mind as my husband and I sat on the balcony of our beach house getaway, gazing upward at the vast, starry sky.

As we first went outside, the sky appeared overcast, with few discernible points of light. But the longer we sat there, the more dark-adapted our eyes became. Gradually more stars appeared, and even recognizable constellations. After several minutes of our evening prayer, a meteor even streaked across the horizon, leaving a shining trail before it vanished!

If we are to fully appreciate the night sky, we must spend time in hopeful anticipation that our patience will be rewarded. It is much the same for prayer. We can rush through it, like the hastily recited grace in a restaurant, squeezed in before the server returns to take the order. Or we can wait quietly in our prayer closet, not so that we can remember and ask for every last wish cluttering our mind that day, but so that we can hear God speak (Psalm 46:10; 1 Kings 19:12).

Before we reclined in the patio chairs, our view was restricted to what was immediately before and below us. The horizon and waves were mesmerizing and soothing, yet had we not changed our perspective to the heavens above, we would have missed the main event!

I wonder how many times God wants to direct our attention upward, to remind us that our home is in Heaven once we are saved by trusting in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4), and that we are already seated in heavenly places in Him (Ephesians 1:3; 2:6). Yet if we stubbornly look downward or even straight ahead, how can we set our minds and hearts on things above and store up heavenly treasure (Matthew 6:19-20) that lasts forever?

The stargazing on that particular night was spectacular, with little light pollution from the quiet beachside development, and a new moon reflecting no light to Earth. Jesus Christ Himself is the Light of the world (John 8:12; 9:5), just as the sun is the physical source of light on our planet. Sunlight reflected from the moon, which has no intrinsic light source, illuminates the night sky. Similarly, we as believers are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14; Philippians 2:15), reflecting His light to others.

But in certain phases of the moon, sunlight reflected from the moon is not visible from our location on Earth, and the brilliance of the stars is our only nocturnal illumination. I believe there are seasons when Christ’s glory reflects brightly from His children, to His glory, and other seasons when His light is not reflected from us, lest we be consumed by pride and wrongly assume that we shine brightly without His power. As John the Baptist said, “[Christ] must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30)

The heavens are filled with countless stars, most of which are brighter than earth’s sun, yet they are impossible to see during the day because light from the sun is so much closer. They are even difficult to see at night, particularly when there is a full moon or many street or porch lights.

Jesus Christ is now seated at the right hand of God the Father (Mark 16:19), in the third heaven, even further away from the second heaven where the stars reside (2 Corinthians 12:2). Yet He sent His Holy Spirit to live within the heart of every believer (2 Corinthians 1:22), so He is very near to us (Acts 17:27; James 4:8). But if we allow His light within us to be eclipsed by the false lights of the world or by our own self-glorification, we will miss His lamp to our feet and light for our path (Psalm 119:105).

Thinking I could enhance our stargazing experience, I had surprised my husband on his birthday with the gift of a telescope! My intentions were good, but after more than an hour of fiddling with knobs, lenses, screws, and viewing angles, the image we could see through the viewfinder was blurred and actually inferior to what we could see with our naked eyes!

It may have been operator error, or faulty equipment, but in any case it made me think that God often wants to communicate with us directly through His Word, and not through an overly analytical approach that may actually distance us from His message or obfuscate His truth.

Bible study and meditation on His Word are good, desirable, and commanded by God (Psalm 119; John 5:39; Acts 17:11). Often Scripturally sound commentaries, sermons, and teaching can be illuminating, yet the best commentary on the Word of God is the Word of God itself. Reading books about the Bible are no substitute for reading the Bible itself.

If we attempt to view the stars through a telescope lens, we may succeed in getting a closer glimpse of a particular star, but we may lose sight of the forest for the trees and fail to appreciate the overwhelming glory of God through the vastness of His creation. The glory of the stars is different from that of the sun and the moon, and each star differs from the others in its glory (1 Corinthians 15:41)

I am reminded of a speaker I once heard at a funeral, who gave a most erudite, detailed presentation about Joseph of Arimathaea (Mark 15:43), his history, his family history, and his provision of the tomb for Jesus. Yet he failed to preach the Gospel, to mention that the tomb is empty (John 20), and that through Jesus’ resurrection, all who trust Him have eternal life!

The starry sky is not only beautiful and awe-inspiring, but it also calls to mind God’s many promises recorded and fulfilled in His Word. He promised to make Abraham the father of a great nation with descendants as innumerable as the grains of sand in the desert, or as the stars in the sky (Genesis 15:5; 22:17; 26:4; etc.). He kept and is still fulfilling this promise through the birth of Isaac even when his mother Sarah had been barren and was then decades past her childbearing years (Genesis 17:17).

God not only created all the stars by His Word (Genesis 1:16; Psalm 8:3; 136:9) and arranged them into constellations (Job 9:9) but knows each of them by name (Psalm 147:4), just as He knows each of us intimately and knows our needs before we even ask Him (Matthew 6:8). Bible prophecy foretells that during the Great Tribulation, which no believer will experience, a third of the stars will fall from the sky (Revelation 8:12; 12:4; Matthew 24:29), and the stars will no longer give their light (Isaiah 13:10; Joel 2:10; 3:15).

It has been said that looking at the star-filled sky is like hiding under the front porch as children, peering through the cracks between the floorboards, and seeing pinpoints of light among the cobwebs, dirt and rusty nails. We caught a glimpse of something better, yet we could not appreciate that on the other side of those floorboards was a stately mansion. Now we contemplate the stars but as of yet cannot imagine the glory Heaven holds (Isaiah 64:4; 1 Corinthians 2:9), including the special mansions Christ is preparing for us (John 14:1-3).

Jesus Christ Himself is the bright Morning Star (Revelation 22:16) Who will come again (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17), I pray soon, just when all is at its darkest. May the eyes of our understanding (Ephesians 1:18) be enlightened! Till He returns may we keep looking up (Luke 21:28), for our ultimate redemption into glorified bodies (1 Corinthians 15: 42-57) draws near!

© 2020 Laurie Collett