What the Light Reveals

I am not a fastidious housekeeper. I have never enjoyed the actual cleaning part of it. Perhaps it's because as a kid, dusting was my weekly responsibility when I would have preferred being outside playing with my cats or exploring the farm. Dusting and vacuuming are still my most disliked tasks. I'd rather clean bathrooms. But my home is clean, neat and orderly, in spite of the fact I’m not one who gets into every nook and cranny weekly.

Early one morning, as the sun shone through the windows into my kitchen, I noticed how the light revealed all the dust accumulated on my kitchen cupboard doors and other surfaces. I was taken back a bit. My house wasn’t as clean as I thought it was. The light exposed areas of my house I assumed were clean, and it highlighted “hidden” dirt. It showed me where I needed to focus my attention on.

When the light shines on something, it reveals what was previously unseen. Things that are visible during the daylight, become hidden in a dark room. Have you ever stubbed your toe on a piece of furniture you could clearly see in the daylight, but tripped on in the dark? Outside, in the dark of night, we are unable to see potential dangers hiding behind bushes, or any pitfalls or dangers that lie ahead. We need a light to guide us and reveal any hidden snares or potentially harmful things.

Sometimes our lives feel pretty clean. We have good relationships, we are serving God, and we feel pretty good about ourselves in general. We don't see anything obvious that needs to be "cleaned up," but like the loving Father He is, there are times He shines His light into our hearts and minds to reveal a little bit of dirt– or maybe a lot! – that needs our attention.  

His purpose in this is to help us become more like Him, and to keep us from things that could cause us harm. He doesn't want us tripping on things or walking into danger in our spiritual walk. We need His light to help us find our way safely.

Perhaps there is some sinful or ungodly behavior or habit we need to repent of. Maybe He reveals to us a certain area of our lives where we need to change how we look at something, or how we do something. He knows what each of us need, and He knows all the things we hide in the dark. Thoughts. Soulish things. Habits. Actions. Desires. He knows all things.

Having God shine His light on us is a good thing. We think we are clean, but when Jesus shines His light on us, it is revealed what “dirt” we may still have clinging to us. It may feel bad to have this exposure, but in reality, it’s a gift. He is coming for a bride without spot or wrinkle. He is cleaning us up to become more like Him! The next time the sunshine reveals some unexpected dust in your house, let it remind you that God wants to clean us up, too, for our benefit. Let Him shine His light on you!