With Whom Is the “Light” of Our Life-Path?
There’s something mystical about the moon shining high up in the sky. When full, it illuminates the path for those who need its light to walk. When it is waning, then the moon reveals a darkness of the night that permeates the earth. A waning is the period between a full moon and a new moon. A waning moon is a time when the visible presence of the moon becomes less, and the night sky becomes darker than light.
A waning moon is a time of reflection.
A waning moon is a preparation time to look deep within to see where we truly walk with the Light of the world.
Currently, we don’t really know exactly where we reside within the time of the “full moon,” (how long we have until Jesus returns). Yes, that’s right. We could be in the time of darkness Before the New Moon—OR—We could be in the time of the Full Moon—OR—We could be in the time of some visible light during the waning of the Moon. We do not know, but God knows!
Currently, we can share Jesus with those around us, but there is coming a day when we will be taken from this world, and when that day comes, our witness, our testimony will no longer be heard. The Bible speaks a great deal about The Day of the Lord’s return.
If we live to our old age, Jesus will return for us before that day, and then on the Day of the Lord, we will be resurrected first with all the other saints who have also died.
If we live until the Day of the Lord, then Jesus will return for us on THAT day.
- Where do we find ourselves in our walk with the LORD of the heavens?
- Where do we look for our guidance?
- Do we look up or do we look around us at those who walk through life with us?
- Do we look within our own selves or do we look into the Word of God for teaching?
- In whom do we place our trust, our hope, and our future?
- Do we know the Son of God as Savior, Redeemer, & Lord—OR—Do we know the father of lies more than we know the Father of Truth.
This early morning, I found myself walking through the Scriptures, and as I did, two particular passages, one from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament blended together within my heart and mind. One passage comes from Isaiah and one comes from the gospel of Luke. Both speak of our Lord Jesus Christ. Please see with me.
“It will be just the same on the day that
the Son of Man is revealed.
On that day, the one who will be on the
housetop, with his goods in the house, must
not go down to take them out; and likewise
the one in the field must not turn back.
Remember Lot’s wife.”
“Whoever strives to save his life will lose
it, and whoever loses his life will keep it.
I tell you, on that night there will be
two in one bed; one will be taken and the
other will be left.
There will be two women grinding at
the same place; one will be taken and the
other will be left.
[“Two men will be in the field; one will
be taken and the other will be left.”]
(Luke 17: 30-36 NASB)
We live in a dark world; just walk anywhere: into any home, into any business, into any church, into any school—anywhere we go, we can find the darkness.
We also live in a world filled with the Light of the world; just walk anywhere: into any home, into any business, into any church, into any school—anywhere we go, we can find the Light of God.
Now, maybe we have doubt in the above list. Maybe we disagree with the whole truth that darkness can be found within homes, businesses, churches, and schools, but consider, wherever people exist, there will always be—two types of people:
Those who belong to God &
Those who don’t “yet” belong to God.
Let us consider the words of Jesus Christ.
“It will be just the same on the day that
the Son of Man is revealed.
On that day, the one who will be on the
housetop, with his goods in the house, must
not go down to take them out; and likewise
the one in the field must not turn back.
Remember Lot’s wife.”
(Luke 17: 30-32 NASB)
Jesus is speaking with the Pharisees who have approached Him about the end of time, and while speaking, part of His discourse is directed at those men, but then in the middle of speaking, Jesus turns toward His disciples and directs His comments to them. Why? The reason we study and listen to the Word of God is so that we can walk worthy of the One who has given His mercy and His grace to us. We study & We listen because God saved us!
- Jesus says—He will return; He will be revealed!
- Jesus says—On that day, it will be a normal day, one of working, of living, one that will come to us unexpectedly.
- Jesus says—On that day, we who believe must not turn back (within our minds or even with our bodies).
- Jesus says—On that day, when it comes, we must be READY to meet the Son of God!
We live in a dark world; just walk anywhere: With Whom do we walk? Who Is the Light of Our Life-Path?
“Whoever strives to save his life will lose
it, and whoever loses his life will keep it.
I tell you, on that night there will be
two in one bed; one will be taken and the
other will be left.
There will be two women grinding at
the same place; one will be taken and the
other will be left.
[“Two men will be in the field; one will
be taken and the other will be left.”]
(Luke 17: 33-36 NASB)
Remember: Jesus is speaking with the Pharisees who have approached Him about the end of time, and while speaking, part of His discourse is directed at those men, but then in the middle of speaking, Jesus turns toward His disciples (and toward us who know Him as Savior and Lord) & Jesus directs His comments to His disciples.
There is an important reason we study and listen to the Word of God. We cannot walk worthy of the One who has given His mercy and His grace to us unless we do (study and listen and follow God’s Word). Jesus speaks about “that day.”
- Jesus says—On that day as it unfolds, we must not strive to keep our natural, sinful ways of life because we now belong to God, and we must walk differently than the rest of the world.
- Jesus says—We must lose our life so that our life will be kept.
- Jesus says—We must live every day only in obedience to Almighty God.
- Jesus says—On that day, two will be sleeping side-by-side and working side-by-side, and one will be taken while one will not.
There will always be—two types of people:
Those who belong to God &
Those who don’t “yet” belong to God.
- Let us consider the words of Jesus Christ, of God.
- Let us carve out time this day—to pause, to reflect.
- Let us carve out time this day—to examine our walk with God.
The Apostle Luke wrote two books of the Bible, and in The Acts of the Apostles, we see Luke repeat the words of the prophet Joel.
“but this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel:
‘AND IT SHALL BE IN THE
LAST DAYS,’ God says, . . .
“THE SUN WILL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS
AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD,
BEFORE THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS
DAY OF THE LORD COMES.
AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE
WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF
THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.’
“Men of Israel, listen to these words:
Jesus the Nazarene, a Man attested to you
by God with miracles and wonders and signs
which God performed through Him in your
midst, just as you yourselves know—
this Man, delivered over by the prede-
termined plan and foreknowledge of God,
you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless
men and put Him to death.
But God raised Him from the dead, put-
ting an end to the agony of death, since it was
impossible for Him to be held in its power.”
(The Acts of the Apostles 2: 16-17a & 20-24 NASB)
The prophet Isaiah wrote about the “GREATNESS of GOD.”
“The grass withers, the flower fades,
But the word of our God
stands forever.”
(Isaiah 40: 8 NASB)
There will always be—two types of people:
Those who belong to God &
Those who don’t “yet” belong to God.
- Let us consider the words of Jesus Christ, of God. &
- Let us take seriously our task of witnessing in this dark world in which we must live.
- Let us witness and testify of our Lord, Savior, and Redeemer.
- Let us—this day, while the moon shines bright, reflecting the Goodness & Greatness of God for ALL to see.