Go Into the Light
Do you remember the movie Poltergeist? It was about a house that was haunted with not just one ghost, but many, many of them because the greedy developer built the entire neighborhood over a cemetery.
The 4’3” actress Zelda Rubinstein plays the eccentric medium hired to help exercise the house. At the height of the movie, the house is shaking, lights are blinking, and in all the chaos, There is Zelda yelling “Go into the light” to all the spirits, “There is peace and serenity in the light”`. When they’ve all transitioned, the house calms down. The wind and the noise stop, and there is Zelda, looking into the camera that’s documenting her exorcism, declaring “This house is clean!”
In movie after movie, you hear people telling their loved ones to go into the light. Even at the end of Ghost, when Patrick Swayze is saying goodbye to Demi Moore, the light begins to shine behind him and he turns and goes into it.
It's been a common in pop culture that when someone passes, their soul separates and sees the white light and feel the warmth of the presence of God. They refer to “going into the light” as rejoining our maker.
But if all this is going to join with God, why would we wait until the end of our lives to join him?
Job 3 asks:
20 “Why is light given to those in misery, and life to the bitter of soul, 21 to those who long for death that does not come, who search for it more than for hidden treasure, 22 who are filled with gladness and rejoice when they reach the grave?
So, should it only be at the very end when we reach the presence of our Creator? What were we doing during our lives? Just marking time?
Light is so important that it was the first of creation. In the 3rd sentence in the Bible says (Genesis 1:3): And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good.
Light is good, but let’s look at light in the context of the opening; being with God.
I think light is where we’ve always belonged. This shouldn’t sound like someplace foreign. It should feel like home to us. If the light is being with God, wouldn’t it make sense is that’s where we began?
In Christian doctrine of many different churches, the debate rages on whether our soul, or spirit, existed prior to birth. All across my research, there were some pretty fiery arguments. There were some people really upset with the position either way. But I look to the Old Testament. What I found is that of course we started with God in the light. He formed us and knew us. I believe this because God told the Prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:5) “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; before you were born, I sanctified you; and I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
If God knew Jeremiah before he was born, wouldn’t it follow that he knew us as well? If so, then logic shows that yes, we were in the light before we were born.
But then throughout life, we have encounters with the light. Our first major milestone has got to be baptism.
This is the time when we chose to dedicate our lives to the Lord. We believe that baptism is a choice we make when we reach the age of reason. We need to know what right and wrong is, and then chose to walk with God.
The Greek word for washing is baptismos. The root is bapto, meaning to dip, or baptize, meaning to dunk or submerge. So, the Old Testament in the Greek language would have used something of a derivative of baptizing to wash things to make them clean again from being unclean1.
Baptism cleanses us, washing away the filth of sin that we’ve accumulated living outside the teachings. This washing gives us a fresh clean start. Baptism is the fork in the road of life. It should be that like BC & AD, where your life is measured from that point on. That would be the conversion.
It is such an important event that even the Son of God stepped into the water to lead by example.
In Luke 3:21-22 we are told:
21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
That verse in Luke points out something else. For the Holy Spirit to descend upon Jesus at the beginning of His ministry also says a lot about the power and importance. Since the first thing Christ did when he began his ministry is be baptized, He also needed to be filled with the Spirit as well.
Receiving the Holy Spirit is when we really have the light of the Lord burn inside us.
John 14:15-17
15 "If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever- 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
This is a pivotal moment. Look at the statement again about the Holy Spirit, “But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”
To have the spirit live in you must be a life changing moment. This is when the light is really lit in you. To have one of the Trinity inside you. This sets your whole body aglow. Don’t you notice it when you meet someone who’s truly been touched by the Spirit, aren’t you struck by how changed they are? When the Spirit came to the Disciples, it was recorded as the day of Pentecost. Let me read from Acts: Acts 2:1-4
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.
So we really CAN be a light that radiates out. We really can make a difference in others’ lives. And I realize that this is what Christ wants for all of us!
Matthew 5:14-16
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Our light needs to shine. It needs to be held high. And then I come to understand we can also be the cure for all this darkness. Our light can be the kind that brings light to ignorance. Through our study and our testimonies, we can spread the knowledge of the Gospel. Our light can be the kind that chases away the darkness of sadness and depression. We can be the warm flame that lights the way for the sad and the lost. Our flame can give warmth to those in the cold. We really can be the cure for all these. And we’re not asked. We are commanded to do these things. We can’t hide our candle. We need to hold it high for all to see.
John 1:5
The darkness has nothing to do with the light or vice versa. They do not mix. What happens when a room is totally dark and you add light? The darkness disappears. What happens when there is a light in the room and you add darkness? The darkness again disappears! Darkness cannot stand before light. Deception cannot stand before the truth! If we have God’s words, and we shine them on falsehood, the errors become glaring.
And with that’s I realize that if we are a light that can shine light on the truth. We can brighten the darkened room. Here are some of the ways we can be the beacon of God:
1. We must show kindness:
This is right out of the sermon on the mount, where it says “Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you”. And in Ephesians it tells us (Ephesians 4:32) - “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” And additionally in Galatians (Galatians 6:10) says, "So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith".
2. We should be supportive:
Everyone has moments of weakness. Help support those in times of weakness. 1 Thessalonians 5:14 says "help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive'"
3. God wants us to be generous:
Show others that we are only caretakers of Gods world. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 says: 6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully[a] will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
4. Let us be thankful:
Be thankful to God. Every day is a gift and should be treated as such. No matter what is happening in our lives, a new day is an opportunity to make it better. Also, we are truly wealthy. Even if not monetarily, in love, for we have been given Grace. ISAIAH 12:4-5 (NASB) says : “And on that day you will say, "Give thanks to the LORD, call on His name. Make known His deeds among the peoples; make them remember that His name is exalted." Praise the LORD in song, for He has done glorious things; let this be known throughout the earth.
5. Teach without judging:
Teach the path of the lord without judging be being mindful that we are all sinners. As they learn the truth, let them find the error of their ways with the realization that sin hurts their creator. Matthew 7:1-5 says. "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. " How could we ever invite anyone to the LORD if we spend our time telling them what they did is wrong. They will only see our sin and rightly see us as a hypocrite, and subvert any massage of the Love of God we are trying to impart.
6. Be a mentor:
Everyone needs someone to look to for guidance. Even the smartest among us make poor choices at times. It is always good to look for examples of how to be Christ like. Proverbs 9:9: "Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning"
The Lighthouse of Alexandria was a beacon in the ancient world. It could be seen around 34 miles away, and then sailors know they had about a day’s journey to get there. But the fires at the top of the lighthouse consumed so much fuel, it had to be carried to the top by animals. Without the constant refueling, the brightness would have dimmed. Our light also needs to be refueled in order to remain a beacon for other to see. We refuel by learning and recharging. We learn by constantly studying the scriptures. This is a pretty big book and unless you have the mind of a super-genius, you probably need to keep studying like me. This helps you stay armed so you can keep your fires burning.
We also need to come together and gather strength from one another. This helps us re-energize to keep the light glowing. Then we can be the guiding light for all who are seeking truth. Light is where we belong. Our life shouldn’t flirt with the light, but live in it.
I leave off with this from Ephesians 5: 8-14
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said:
“Wake up, sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
1. https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/baptism#:~:text=The%20word%20baptism%20can%20be,kinds%20of%20initiations%20as%20well.
