“Food For Thought”
I had a conversation with a co-worker a few weeks ago, during which they mentioned how hard it was for a Christian to make any difference in our world these days with all the evil things that just keep on happening all around. They felt like things were so dark out there, that there was nothing anyone could do about it. It’s easy to feel that way, especially if you watch any of the news programs on television, read through the headlines on the internet, or turn on the radio; it is dark out there.
I started thinking about how a believer can make a difference. At first it doesn’t seem possible, just so many bad things happening all at once that it’s overwhelming. It’s hard not to feel like we’re all being swallowed up by that darkness…hidden from sight. But then I remembered a mission trip I’d went on with my youth group to help a sister church down in Kentucky. While we were there, we visited a very popular natural wonder called the “Mammoth Cave.”
I was probably sixteen at the time, but I’ve never forgotten the demonstration the guide performed for our group when we took the tour through those caverns. He led us all into a giant hall inside the cave, and had us gather close together. He warned us that he was going to shut all the lighting down and we would be plunged into complete darkness, so we weren’t supposed to move since we wouldn’t even be able to see our hands in front of our faces.
That was darkness, I mean complete darkness…and then the guide lit a wooden matchstick. I’ll never forget how bright that one little flame was, and how it made it possible to see everyone in the room. The darker it was, the easier that one little flame was to see. The same is true for us as believers in these dark times, and that’s why Jesus said, “…you are the light of the world.” So when you see the world growing darker, take heart and know that as one of God’s children it makes you shine even brighter for those who need God’s light…