Anyone got a light?

From what I can see, Faith has an inward element to it as well as an outward element. Once we have some sort of handle on what is going on inwardly, we are encouraged to share that proactively and bring it outward. This brings with it all sorts of challenges. Boldness for one. Confidence for another. It is also an open invitation for questioning, and if you aren't confident in what you believe - it is going to be very tricky to convince someone else.

And as what you believe becomes a part of what defines you, it should spill or ooze out of you... like water overflowing in a bath or jam out of a doughnut or a crack of light behind a door.

Light is usually quite a passive sort of noun. It just sort of 'is'. Unless you think about fireworks.

Christian teaching usually associates the light mentioned in the bible with candle light or star light and this imagery is itself quite biblical. But what if we think of the light more in the sense of fireworks - bright, spectacular, showstopping even.

The bible talks a lot about light and I have picked out some some of these mentions below. Holding onto the thought of fireworks:

Genesis 1: 3-4
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.

John 1 : 4-5
In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Matthew 5: 14 - 16
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Isaiah 60:19
The sun will no more be your light by day,
nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you,
for the Lord will be your everlasting light,
and your God will be your glory.

Revelation 22:5
There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

So is faith about fireworks? No. Is it about spectacular living? Mostly not. Although everyone with a faith can probably increase the impact their faith postively has on the world. Is it about lighting up the darkness? Yes.

Light can be a crack behind the door, candlelight, lamplight or fireworks. The important thing about light is not how it shines, but that it cannot be contained.

For the Jesus geeks, Genesis 1 & Revelation 22 are the first chapter of first book and the last chapter of last book. A nice little way to start and finish and not likely a coincidence.