Full of Light
by Gwen Thompson
A few years ago I was diagnosed with the early signs of cataracts. At the time I wasn’t aware that anything was wrong, and it’s taken a few years for the cataracts to impact on my sight. It is now at a point where it can be difficult to focus properly when reading, or driving at night when the glare from approaching headlights distorts my vision. Without treatment, the cataracts will continue to deteriorate and my sight will be greatly impaired.
This is so like our spiritual life. When we allow our focus to move away from God and His Word, life starts to lose clarity and direction. So often it starts in a very small way and with good intentions. I know there are times when I have missed my quiet time due to an unexpected visitor or when I’ve had a particularly busy day ‘serving the Lord’. This leads to my quiet time being rushed and my mind distracted. I can fool myself into thinking I’ve met with God, but really I know in my heart that God has not had all of my attention.
I suspect we all have times when this happens, but if we allow this behaviour to continue it will imperceptibly draw us further and further away from the source of our light. Without drastic treatment life will deteriorate and we will lose sight of what’s important.
God is about relationship. When we are speaking with someone we love they have our undivided attention. We listen. We’re interested in what they have to say. We share so much of ourselves with them; the highs, the lows, and our deepest thoughts. Our total focus is on them. This is where God wants us, where His love and light can reach us.
I’ve learnt that if I don’t meet with God in this way throughout the day, there’s something missing. The verse in Luke speaks of your whole body being full of light when you keep your eyes upon the Lord. That’s diminished when we fail to spend time with the personhood of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Isn’t it wonderful to know that the Father’s love never wanes and He’s waiting to welcome us with love, despite our focus wandering!
It’s echoed in the 1922 hymn:
‘O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Saviour,
And life more abundant and free!
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace’.
Helen H Lemmel (1864-1961)
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank You that Your attention and love never wane. You’re there for us 24 hours a day. Help us to focus more on You and to be open to the prompting of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives. Give us a heart to seek more of You and to follow Jesus, and to share Your light with those we love and meet. We give You our love, and glory in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.
Gwen Thompson is the Centre Coordinator at Ellel Scotland and is married to Mark. She has two married sons and six grandchildren. Apart from serving with Ellel Scotland, she has had the privilege of serving in Israel for five years with two different Church Ministries and in Northern Ireland with an Evangelistic Association.
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