School days were a time filled with curiosity and exploration, as we tried things to see what would happen, influenced by our peers. Sometimes these influences were harmless, and other times not so much.
I recall one cool trick that fascinated us: using a magnifying glass or mirror to burn through paper. The mirror was angled towards the sun and positioned to allow the reflected rays to create the effect where the heat burns the paper. Looking back, I shudder to think of the danger we could have caused. But thankfully, we didn’t. Naivety and youth can be a dangerous combination.
Nonetheless, this effect underscores a fundamental truth about our capacity to be used as a channel to achieve incredible things when we tap into the power of God. But this power is only available and evident when certain conditions are met:
1) The light of God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, must shine in us. We have no light on our own without Him because of our inherent sin condition.
2) The light of Jesus in us should be reflected so that it positively impacts the lives of other people. The influence of Jesus on our lives will result in a supernatural change that is evident to others.
3) We must be in the right place spiritually and positioned correctly for God to use us in this way. A right relationship with God gives us the privilege to be used by Him in a greater capacity.
4) When God uses us in marvelous ways, all the glory should go to Him and not to us. After all, without Him, we can do nothing.
The Apostle John understood the source of light. When speaking of Jesus, he wrote in John 1:4, “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.”
Then, the Apostle Matthew speaks to our responsibility to share this light with others for the glory of God in Matthew 5:16, which says, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
So, if you don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus, remember that He is the source of light, which gives hope, direction, clarity, and joy.
And if you have a personal relationship with Him, let His light shine in and through you so that others can see God’s power and glorify God as a result.