Life-spark: Reflect life. John 1:6-9
I remember when our family vacationed on the Oregon coast at Newport. I was fascinated by the lighthouse located on the north side of Yaquina Bay. I was impressed when my parents explained the huge part that reflectors – rightly placed mirrors – played in the night-time brightness of the lighthouse.
I like the way Eugene Peterson, author of a modern-language paraphrase of the Bible called “The Message,” describes a human mirror named John the Baptist:
There once was a man, his name John, sent by God to point out the way to the Life-Light. He came to show everyone where to look, who to believe in. John was not himself the Light; he was there to show the way to the Light. John 1:6-8, MSG
I have a friend who is lead pastor at a church here in Bend, Oregon. Until just recently this church was called “First Baptist.” I think the first “first Baptist” was John the Baptist. And he was the first Baptist that was willing to play second fiddle. He didn’t want everyone looking at him, he knew he was the reflector, not the Light.
The Life-Light was the real thing: Every person entering Life he brings into Light. John 1:9, MSG
I remember when I was trying to find safe port in my spiritual midnight. I was about to be on the rocks. Just then some Life-light reflected off a high school friend named Steve.
The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; John 1:5a, MSG
Not too long after that I negotiated myself across the bar and into safe port. I will be eternally grateful for that human lighthouse. I hope I can be that for someone else.
One minute Life-action: Make a note to stop before I go to bed tonight and see if I can remember reflecting eternal light in any way today.