Lights in Darkest Britain

Jesus said,

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

(John 8:12)

The way out? It's Him.

But He also said,

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

(Matthew 5:14-16)

You see? If God is in you, if you've got Jesus in your heart, then you've got the light. OK, maybe it's only a reflection, but you know what? If you're stranded on a desert island, apparently the most important thing to have is a small mirror. Why? Because if you point it at the sun, it becomes the brightest beacon, so anyone off-shore or in the sky will see it.

So, even if our lives are only reflecting God's love and light a little bit, it's going to stick out a mile. People will stop, take notice, maybe even, eventually, think, "Maybe there is a God. And maybe He cares. And maybe I can get to know Him, and the life, real life, that He alone offers through Jesus Christ."

Have you seen the first Superman movie? There's this bit where Lois Lane has an exclusive interview with Superman on her apartment balcony. At the end of the interview, he asks her if she'd like to go for a fly. Taking his hand, she asks, "You mean I can fly?" Superman replies, "I'll be taking care of the actual flying, if it's all the same." And off they go. She can"fly", because Superman has come down to where she is, has taken her by the hand, and has lifted her up.
You know what? Most religions are about trying to climb up the ladder of religious doings to reach up to God, or indeed who or whatever may be up there. But I thank God that as a Christian, I don't need to do that, because there's no way I'd manage it. God is holy, perfect, pure, everything that I'm not, and could never be, on my own. So thank God, Jesus came down the ladder to where we are and takes us by the hand and lifts us up to be where He is!

one more person...

I don't know if you've seen the film, "Schindler's List". Well, it's set during the holocaust. Oskar Schindler is the main character (played by Liam Neeson). He is an entrepreneur, who is only out to make a lot of money and have fun in the process. He is a card-carrying member of the Nazi Party. He isn't always totally honest. He is a womaniser. He is lots of things that would make him an unlikely hero.

He discovers that WWII is actually good for business. He hires lots of Jews as cheap labour to make pots and crockery and stuff for military use. He becomes successful and rich as the war continues - as does the holocaust. Eventually, he starts to become aware of the realities. People are dying.

Finally, the Nazis try to send some of his Jewish workforce to the gas chambers. He then decides to invest his own money in buying their freedom. To his Jewish assistant's amazement, Schindler's List of Jews to be saved contains children and people who would be of little use to him in his factory. But he buys them out anyway.

So, with 1100 or so Jews, he moves to a new factory. But the war is over. So he will be hunted as a war criminal and must flee. He has freed his Jews. As he goes to his car to leave, all of his Jews surround him. They have given him a gold ring, inscribed, "He who saves one life saves the world entire."

Schindler breaks down and weeps. If only, he cries... If only I hadn't blown so much money on my own selfish lifestyle. If only I had sold this suit I'm wearing. I could have bought one more. Or the car. That might have bought me 2 more people. My watch. One more person...

The Jews try to console him. 1100 are alive who would be dead if not for him.

But I guess it's scant consolation.

And I am always deeply moved in spirit when I see this or think about this. One more person. I don't want to reach my death bed and feel that way. One more for Jesus, if only I had... One more person might have been saved, if I'd just...

others

I'll fight

"While women weep as they do now, I'll fight;
while little children go hungry as they do now, I'll fight;
while men go to prison, in and out, in and out, I'll fight;
while there is a poor lost girl upon the street, I'll fight;
while there yet remains one dark soul without the light of God, I'll fight - I'll fight to the very end!"
(William Booth)

General William Booth

The founder of the Salvation Army, in 1865, although it was known as the (East London) Christian Mission at first. Some might say he was a revolutionary figure, but I don't know - I'd say he was pretty old-fashioned, he just did what Jesus told His church to do nearly 2000 years earlier. But either way, he was still an extraordinary man, the "General next to God."