The book of Hebrews begins with a wonderfully descriptive statement about the Lordship of Christ. To quote from the Amplified Bible, He (Christ) is …
“the sole expression of the glory of God [the Light-being, the out-raying or radiance of the divine], and He is the perfect imprint and very image of [God’s] nature, upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling the universe by His mighty word of power.”
~ Hebrews 1:3, (Amp.)
I love that description…Christ is the Light-being, radiating the divine nature of God.
But wait…there is more.
As Christians and therefore followers or students of Christ we are, as described by scripture, “Christ’s ambassadors” and as such we have been charged with the “ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:17, Amp.). Which, when you think about it makes us bearers of the Light or Light-bearers.
What a perfectly wonderful visual. Christ bears the Light of God and as His personal representatives, we become bearers of that Light and God’s message of reconciliation. Pretty awesome duty… but also one that comes with some pretty important responsibilities.
Ambassadors of Christ
As with any ambassadorship comes the responsibility of properly reflecting or representing the principal-agent. As Christ’s personal representatives, we have a duty to reflect the nature of God and accurately transmit His message of reconciliation to His creation. It also means that we have a responsibility to hold things up to the Light and discern whether or not they are an accurate reflection of God and God’s Light.
Dark to Light
This duty to shine as a light in a dark world sounds rather simple at first blush. What could be more rewarding than being a beacon of light in a dark world and proclaiming the good news of God’s desire to be reconciled to His creation? Nothing hard or difficult about that…or is there.
While being a Light-bearer and shining out into the darkness is indeed a wonderful calling, being a Light-bearer also means understanding that one of the attributes of light is to dispel darkness.
Ohm…wait a minute…that doesn’t sound like nearly as much fun. Couldn’t I just be a simple little light and spend my time bringing light and good news to the world?
Remember the little children’s song that went…
A sunbeam, a sunbeam, Jesus wants me for a sunbeam;A sunbeam, a sunbeam, I’ll be a sunbeam for him.
Yes, being a sunbeam…or should we say Son-beam, is a real part of being a Light-bearer; however, Light-bearers have also been commissioned to push back the darkness.
Brought to Light
Christ reflected on this aspect of light and lamps by explaining that lamps belong in the open where they can be seen and dispel darkness. As cities on hills and lamps on lampstands, we remain cognizant of the light’s responsibility to “bring to light” and make plain those things that remain hidden and secret (Luke 8:17).
The Ministry of Reconciliation
This blog is part of that mission… as it is manifested in the work to which I believe I have been called. As an ambassador of Christ, I take seriously my calling to be a bearer of Christ as the Devine Light of reconciliation, dispel the darkness, and bring to light those things that remain hidden among the shadows.
Please remember as you read my posts that while my spirit has been fully transformed by the Light-bearer I (like us all) still have a soul and a body that is progressively and daily being transformed into the likeness of Him whose image I seek to reflect, i.e. I’m still a work in progress.
My hope is that my words, my writings will stir your curiosity and a desire to search a matter out…to learn, through diligent study, the hidden meanings and secrets that undergird many of the cultural “truths” of our times (Proverbs 25:2).
As it is for many of you, writing helps me organize my thoughts and clarify the essence of a matter. It helps me work through confusing ideologies and develop a deeper understanding of God, His creation, and my role in His world.
Brought to Light is a collection of articles, poems, essays, posts, and musings that reflect my desire to be a Light-bearer and matter-searcher. Please feel free to take what you like and leave the rest. It is my hope that my writing will stir your curiosity, provide validation, and push you to search for Truth…Total Truth.
Happy reading and happy searching!
TMarie