Devotion by Jason Sell

I've been to a few caves in my life, and never really was a fan of being underground with creepy, slimy things in the dark. Inevitably, no matter what cave we were in, the guide would always take a moment to turn off the installed lights and show you what complete darkness looks and feels like. And of course, while visiting Wind Cave National Park this summer, they shut the lights out on us, too. We were plunged into complete darkness.

Jesus said in His sermon on the mount in Matthew 5:14-16,
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

Jesus was referencing the prophet Isaiah’s teaching, showing that light has a purpose beyond simply shining: to lead others out of darkness. When we hide the light of Christ’s salvation from others, we are putting Him deep in the cave and turning the switch off. But who puts an off switch on Christ? That’s not meant to be. Dietrich Bonhoeffer once asked, "Is the cross not something which became outrageously visible in complete darkness?"

This world is a dark place without Christ. Creepy, slimy, scary dark. But we can reflect the light of Christ in this darkness so others can find Jesus too. We’re not going to make our own light for our own glory. And we’re not weaponizing our light like ultra-bright high-beam headlights on a dark country road, disregarding how we harm others. We are reflecting Christ’s light, the warm glow of His love and mercy by the good we can do, so that just the cross is what is seen, so that God receives the glory, so that others can find their way out of the darkness to Him.