Right click on box to control sound It was 10 P.M, February 29, 2004. I was down by the boat pier near my home spending some time with the Lord. It is so peaceful to look out over the river as the moonlight catches the ripples across the water. I had been here many times before and it was a great place to pray looking out over the river that empties into the vast Chesapeake Bay in Virginia. I sensed a real presence of God around the river and the halogen lights illuminating the boat dock caused a surreal presence that evening. Looking over underneath one of the piers, I sensed some movement in the dark. I had seen him before walking among the pilings looking for food. It was a beautiful Blue Heron out for a late evening snack. I am always amazed as I watch him fish in the dark. How does he do that with very little light? Slowly he creeps through the shallow 10 inch deep water and suddenly he dips his beak into the water and comes up with a shiny, glimmering, squirming fish. I watch the reflection of the struggling meal from the halogen lights along the shore. He is quickly gobbled up by the hungry heron. I watch the heron fill his belly several times before he flies away into the night for another meal at his next location. Perhaps he is headed home to rest for the evening. How could that heron see those fish? Did he have x-ray vision? Could he see underwater in the dark? No--the difference was the "Light on the Shore". The reflection on the water as the fish swam by was met by the sharp eye of the Blue Heron as his quick neck muscles make him a hearty meal. There in that evening quiet, God brought Psalm 119:130 to my mind. "The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple." He also brought John 1:5 to my mind. "And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not." And I thought that I could not see the fish in the water, but the heron could. So God reminded me that "The Light" made the difference. How much of my life has been lived in darkness, because I had not been using the Light. In 1 John 1:4-7 God tells us, "And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." I discovered that I was living part of my life in darkness. I had memorized all those verses many years ago, but never had put them all together. Now I seem to see it more clearly now. The Light shines into sin in my life, and immediately the darkness leaves. Many times I have struggled with the same sin over and over, and now I begin to see what all those verses about victory are talking about. There were two specific things I had struggled with for years and during that evening God brought the Light of Jesus into my memory and Jesus came alongside of my spirit, and revealed his truth to me. I saw for the first time in over forty years of walking with God that true victory (2 Cor 2:14) was right there in front of me for the asking. What were my sins? It does not matter much to you since you are probably struggling with different things. My sin is common to many but only the "revealed light" can illuminate your sin and mine. I am not God. I am not the Holy Spirit. I am not the policeman for the world. God impressed this upon me during these last two months. "Point them to the Light" He told me. Wow! What a revelation and what a relief! No more trying to change the people around me. I cannot "fix" my wife, my employees, my boss or anyone else. There is only one "Wonderful Counselor" and that job is already filled by Jesus and no more applications are being taken. When we begin to think and act this way, something wonderful happens. 2 Cor 2:14-15 in the Message Bible, says this, "God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ, we give off a sweet scent arising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation. Ministry abounds. Witnessing opportunities jump out at us from all over the place. This "aroma" (NIV) smells good to a "dark" world. Are you a slavery to sin? Does anger or pride or envy or lust or deceitfulness creep into your life? Expose yourself to the light and "feast upon a satisfying meal" like the Blue Heron. Let the "Great Fisherman" satisfy your heart and soul. Late last year (2003) I was pointed toward this philosphy. Perhaps you would want to order the book that impacted my life. The title of the book is "Healing Life's Deepest Hurts." My friend, if God has stirred up your heart for the "Sin that does so easily beset you", then perhaps Jesus can bring "His Light" into your heart and heal your sin. In every instance in the New Testament when Jesus healed a person, he did it completely. There was no temporary fix or partial recovery. The recovery was genuine and permanent. There is not a single report of a blind or lame person reverting back to their previous condition. A touch by the Master is permanent. My friend, our objective has to be to take the world for Jesus. Set your sights high. Don't settle for lukewarm Christianity. Get on Fire. Tell somebody about Jesus today. Be Bold. Jim Young Yorktown, Virginia Read other articles I have written on the Christian Life Email me and ask to be added to mail list for new pages.
