You Light Up the Room!

I struggle at times with my identity. I can feel unloved, unappreciated and lack value. When I am in that state of mind I project how I believe God sees me. You know that, "I am not living good enough," "I sin more than enough," and "God has had enough".  Fortunately for me and you, feelings are deceiving and any negative thoughts I have about God's thoughts about me are equally untrue. 

If God walked into the room what would be His expression towards me? Here is the real question: Does God enter into our lives with mercy and resurrection power or anger and death? If you are like me you can have the tendency to feel the latter. What is true about you and me is what God says about us. We are His "masterpieces", "dearly loved children", "His inheritance"etc. 

Jesus says, "I am the light of the world", in another passage He tells His disciples that they are the light of the world. Whenever God walks into a room His light is so bright that there can be no darkness, no shadows whatsoever. It reminds me of two stories in C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia. In the Magicians Nephew, he describes how Narnia was created out of nothing. That Aslan the "Christ character" began singing and from that melody came light and life. Wherever he walked it produced beautiful vibrant life. Also in the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, there was Winter for many years, the wicked queen had cast a spell of darkness, cold and death. When Aslan enters into Narnia a great thaw took place. Life began to grow, the sun shined and the glory of Spring had overcome the Winter. 

That is how it is when when God enters our lives on a daily basis. He brings creative life, thaws the cold parts of our lives and ignites the beauty of spring. He comes with resurrected power, an unquenchable love for us even when we are not living the best. He reveals life, creates something out of nothing, restores what the enemy has stolen from us. He brings healing and peace.  We read in Luke 15, (You know it as the Prodigal  son story), but it is really about the father's love for his people. The father runs to and can't stop kissing his returning son. That is how our Heavenly Father is with us. He can't stop lavishing His love on us.

When God enter the room, He is beyond pleased with you. Not because you have prayed great prayers, recorded a million hours or Bible reading and service to the poor. He enter the room in euphoric expression towards you based on what His Son Jesus has done for us and our clumsy response to that graceful gift. Since Jesus tells us, "you are the light of the world" that means that whenever we enter a room or whenever we take a simple step, we are His reflected light, we light up the room. We bring healing and peace; we bring light that melts that coldest of hearts, and creates new life for all. 

You are more than your feelings say about you. You are a dearly loved, full of resurrection power, and an abundance of grace provider. You and I light up the room because we have the light of life, the power of God within us. So let your light shine before people, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Heavenly Father. (Matt. 5:16)