If you’re still lagging from losing an hour of sleep this weekend, I feel you. Though it’s only one hour of sleep, it’s messed with my rhythm and it’s been more challenging to wake up when it’s dark outside again. Suffice it to say: my body is not only waiting (impatiently) for spring and summer days and for more daylight in the evening. It’s also waiting (impatiently) for the light to start peeking in earlier in the morning.
For me, light is motivating. It gets me going in the morning. And, light is illuminative. Light helps us see what is otherwise hidden by the darkness.
That light is a gift. But at times, it also may be tempting for us to stay in the dark. For in the dark, it’s easier to hide things…even in our relationship with God.
Now, logically, we might recognize that we can’t hide in the darkness from God. God is God after all! But, in reflecting on the story of Nicodemus coming to Jesus at night, I can’t help but wonder if there are times in which we allow Jesus to see a part of ourselves, but we hold back a bit…keeping a part of ourselves in the dark…lest Jesus sees something that we’d rather not share with anyone else. Thinking about Nicodemus, it was a risk for him to come to Jesus. His meeting with Jesus very easily could’ve created problems with his fellow Jewish leaders. And yet, something prompted him to come to Jesus, to let himself be seen (even if only in part), and to consider what it meant for him to come into the light of Christ.
For us, to come into the light of Christ is what God desires for us because in Christ’s light is where we experience – fully – the life, healing, and forgiveness of our Lord. But, coming into that light is also a risk. For to step into Christ’s light might lead to some change – of ourselves, of our perspectives, of how we live. And yet, this Light of the world – the very Word of God – is God himself who has come to you in faithfulness, fidelity, and devotion. And because of that promise, and that action of our God? We have absolutely no need to stay in the dark.
So this week, consider what it would mean for you in your walk with Jesus and with those around you to come into the light. How is God inviting you to dwell in his light? And, how is God summoning you to step into his spotlight, so that God’s light might shine through you?
All around, God’s light is shining. But even now, that light is just waiting – impatiently – to illuminate more than we could ever imagine.