GOD’S WORD OF LIGHT (4)

“ARISE, SHINE; for YOUR LIGHT HAS COME! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you” – Isaiah 60:1

For every New beginning, it takes GOD’S WORD of LIGHT to awake, arise, and shine: “ARISE, SHINE; for YOUR LIGHT HAS COME! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you.” (Isa.60: 1-2). Here, we see the LIGHT and GLORY of God as a beacon; a strong and focused light set high in a prominent place, to guide, signal, warn, and keep safe. Much like the beacon on top of a lighthouse, the Glory of the Lord is placed upon His people so that others may find their way to Him: “The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising” (v.3). A lighthouse always stands out in a prominent high-up place; it’s not meant to blend in or be submerged in its setting.

The lighthouse is not traumatised or moved by the storm or tormented by the darkness. It stands firm and shines for all to see. The darker it gets, the more the lighthouse becomes evident; the more terrible the times become, the more distinct the beauty of holiness becomes. Under the beacon of God’s Light, the purity and discipline of holiness become an attractive comfort and lifeline to those who are afar out adrift in the darkness, tossed to-and-fro by the world’s boisterous waves. Just like the lighthouse, the Church and Believers, are called, equipped, and built to outlast the storm, stand out and stand tall; to be steadfast and unmoveable always abounding and overflowing in the Lord and His work (1Cor.15:58). Just like the lighthouse, we are built to shine the light of God for others to find their way out of danger and darkness. 

“Rise and shine!” Many mothers use this phrase to get their kids out of bed in the morning. It is actually a Hebrew idiom encouraging people to stand up straight rather than be bent over with difficulties. God was calling His people to stand and get up from where they were struggling and move on. The Holy Spirit’s Presence in our heart must be allowed access to our face, posture, and attitude each day. By calling believers to arise and shine, God is reminding us that we have the ability to shine in this dark world by His Word and His indwelling Spirit. This call to the Body of Christ, to ARISE and SHINE in response to God’s WORD of LIGHT is echoed throughout Scripture from generation to generation.

In Scripture the Hebrew word for shine is often used to describe light. So, the statement, “The Gentiles shall come to your light,” reminds us of the wise men from the East, drawn to Jesus by the light of the Star of Bethlehem. In these last days, God’s Agenda is to see people from all over the earth, come to Jesus at an ever-increasing rate. So, we must diligently heed His charge: “YOU ARE THE LIGHT of the WORLD. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Mt.5: 14-16). We are called: “The Light of the World”; “A City that is set on a hill”; and an elevated Lampstand that “gives light to all who are in the house”!