Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works,

and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16

 

        Jesus is the Light of the world. The best we have to offer the world is a reflection. But that light must be worth something if Christ can use it to glorify Himself.  He wants us to illuminate the works we have done in His name. He wants the clearest hurricane on the lantern that is set on the hill.

      Just before I sat down to write this my cat broke the glass top of a stereo cabinet. It was tempered glass so no one was hurt. As I was cleaning the glass my daughter came in and picked up a piece with shatters going through it just below the surface. She noted how pretty it was. She was right. It was pretty but it was smoky-gray, not clear like window glass. The shatters let even less light through.

       If I was that smoky-gray piece of glass Jesus would have some polishing to do. I would have to repent of the sins that so easily tarnish. I would have to relinquish my will and be conformed to His. I would have to let Him shatter me and replace the broken pieces with clear glass. 

       Repairing broken glass and restoring it to wholeness is a process. Sometimes there’s a seemingly harmless crack and we are not ready to admit we need Jesus’ help. The crack spreads. Some people try to fix their shattered lives. But I’ve seen restored lives and know that they are only possible through the power of God.

     Before we can shine our light before men, we must let God work in our lives. It can be a painful process but it’s worth it.