Romans 13:11-14
11 Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is already the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; 12 the night is far gone; the day is near. Let us then throw off[a] the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; 13 let us walk decently as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in illicit sex and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
About 20 years ago, I went to the PCCCA Annual Conference (Presbyterian Church Camp and Conference Association). That year it was held at Ghost Ranch in New Mexico. To give you a visual, the film City Slickers with Billy Crystal was filmed on their property. I arrived after dark and by the time the driver had made it to the camp it was completely dark. Because it is so rural in particular, the stars were incredibly bright but I still couldn’t see the landscape around me. I went to the room where I was staying and went to sleep. The next morning when I walked outside my jaw fell open. I couldn’t believe the magnificent landscape that surrounded me. Orange, brown and red mountains and canyons were in every direction. I felt like I was almost dropped into another world. I stood there for 10 minutes completely in awe at what surrounded me and at this beautiful world that God created. If the sun had not come out that morning, I would not have been able to see the beauty of this world.
In many ways becoming a Christian is very much like this. Our eyes are opened to the beauty in the world that we might not have otherwise seen. And God invites us to live with our eyes wide open and to live in the light. The light of God helps us to see each and every person, every step along the path, and the fullness of God’s world. When we live in darkness, we cannot fully see the very things that surround us and we can easily stumble and fall. God calls us to live in the light of day, to see it all, and to reflect this light to others.
Prayer
God of light, as we awaken this morning each morning in your world, help us to appreciate our time in the sun. Help us to bask in the light and see the path you have set before us. Remind us that the light you provide is a gift from you to fully see the glory of your world. In Jesus name, Amen.