Monday, 3/30/20 – Pressing on…

Christians on the Checkerboard

There’s an optical illusion which has long amazed me. Perhaps you have seen it. It’s hard to believe, I know. Yet it is completely true: both checkerboard squares ‘A’ and ‘B’ are exactly the same shade!

The reason our brains are tricked by this illusion is that we tend to view things in relation to the things around them. I remember when I was a rough and tumble kid my mom would say the reason she bought me darker colored jeans was “They don’t show the stains as much!” She was depending on the power of illusion to hide my soiled condition.

The devil can play that same trick on us! When Christians stray away from fellowship with other believers they can begin to see themselves in relation to the behaviours and values of the world rather than to the behaviours and values of the kingdom of God!

But God’s standards remain unchanged. His call upon us is to bring light into darkness, not to turn down the dimmer to blend with the sinner. Not that we believe ourselves to be without sin… no, no, no! But we who claim Christ our Lord and Saviour have a mandate to fear as well as to love our Lord. It is the fear of the Lord that purges our sin.

We are called also to be lights in this world. To be bright lights in this world we need to be shone upon by the Brightest Light, revealing the dirty spots and soiled bits which need removal so we might shine unhindered. When we stray from that Light we are poorly illumined, blinded from seeing that darkness within us.

Jesus said “…if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matt. 6:23). I think these words have application here. Just as our physical eyes can get accustomed to the dark so can our spiritual eyes. Soon we think a darkened room is bright, but it is not. We need frequent contact with the sun to show us just how dim the room really is.

Let the fiery brilliance of the Son purge you. Fear His rebuke. Embrace His Love.

 “By the fear of the Lord one departs from evil.” (Prov. 16:6)

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart…” (Deut. 6:4; Matt. 22:37; Luke 10:27).

More tomorrow…

To see and hear Pastor Andrew’s Sunday message, go to the Facebook page of Lincoln Baptist Church… look for the March 29 upload. Or, link to the page from the church website.