Heart in Bloom

“No more stumbling in the darkness when we begin following Jesus:

If you’ve been in a house or a business at night when the electricity goes off and everything turns pitch black, you know what total darkness is really like. It is a totally helpless feeling. When you can’t even see your hand in front of your face, just having a flashlight or a lighted candle can keep you from stumbling around in the dark.

Christ our Lord used light to describe Himself and spiritual things in general. ‘I am the light of the world.’ said Jesus (John 8:12) Jesus says, ‘Let your good deeds shine out for all to see so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.’ (Matthew 5:16) Lift your light high and don’t let anyone do anything to put it out. Getting ourselves out of darkness, and leading others to the light.

Loneliness is something all of us have experienced at different times. Loneliness is one of the greatest inner distances. And it can become tough to deal with at times. In the four Gospels, we read how Jesus was abandoned by the people who professed to love Him, yet left Him alone to die on the cross. It must have been a lonely feeling for Jesus after giving a series of discourses about His identity – that He was the bread of life, the source of living water, and the light of the world, that they never really understood who He was. ‘I am the bread of life. No one who comes to Me will ever be hungry,’ said Jesus. (John 6:35)

At another time, Jesus said, ‘If you believe in me, come and drink!’ For the scriptures declare that rivers of living water will flow from within,’ (John 7:38) But the crowds who heard this were divided in their opinion about Him. And some wanted Him arrested, and when He told another crowd of people, ‘I am the light of the world!’ the Pharisees accused him of making false claims (John 8:12-13).

Along with all of His teaching, Jesus had lived among the people – walking their roads, feeding the hungry and healing the sick. But they still asked, ‘Who are you?’ It is also a question people might ask of us and misunderstand things you are trying to say or do, they take it in the wrong way and misunderstand our motives. But Jesus didn’t respond to questions asked about Him in the way we might. In fact, He didn’t try to explain His background or where He was from. Our Savior responded to their questions by talking about His heavenly Father. ‘Tell us who you are.’ they demanded (John 8:25).

‘I am the one, I have always claimed to be,’ replied Jesus. I have much to say about you and much to condemn, but I won’t. For I say only what I heard from the one who sent me. And He is true.’ But the bible tells us that they didn’t understand that He was talking to them about His Father in Heaven. While the Gospel describes many times when Jesus had good reason to feel loneliness, the Scripture also shows how Jesus turned that loneliness into solitude.

In fact, at various times Jesus left everyone to go to a deserted place. And at other times He just sought the help of His Father by going into His heart to find solitude through prayer. What Jesus always discovered in solitude was that He was loved by the Father who, ‘has not left me alone.’ We can find this same peace by going to our Father in heaven – in solitude or prayer.

Being in darkness and loneliness is the unwanted aching of the heart. If we allow it to take control of us it leaves us feeling needy or wanting to manipulate others as we use them in a vain effort to relieve that ache.

But if we can remain quiet long enough, we soon discover what Jesus found, that we are never alone. It is the only way you will hear the word of the Lord, ‘I have not left you alone.’ These are the only words able to calm the inner part of our hearts.

And until the heart is calm, we will always feel alone in the darkest moments of our lives. The heart can only be satisfied by the one who created it, our yearning is for God, and He is the only one who can truly take us away from the darkness and loneliness. Jesus our Savior used light and darkness to show believers the difference between good and evil. Until we come to Christ and find the love of God, we are wondering around in spiritual darkness, and there is no light to guide us through this life. And that same spiritual light that leads us to the Lord is what illuminates our heart and soul to help lead others to Christ. ‘Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.’ (John 8:12) Once we have this light in our heart, it must shine, shine, shine!

Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, explains this to us all, ‘For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.’ (Ephesians 5:8-9) The bright light of Jesus Christ makes your way, so no more stumbling in darkness. This is the spiritual light that Jesus gives to all who follow in His footsteps. The spiritual light from Jesus our Savior is an endless supply that never goes out! It lasts forever and never leaves us in the dark. What this spiritual does for us is show us the way to stay on the right path throughout our lives.

It also attracts others who are living in spiritual darkness. And that’s just as important in the sight of God. We don’t need to have the speaking ability of an evangelist or some inspiring preacher, our message is the example we set by letting our light shine. The world desperately needs more light, and Jesus said, that His disciples are the light of the world. Jesus our Savior reflected that light and we can too!

‘For this God is our God forever, He will be our guide even to the end. (Psalm48:14)”