Sound of Surviving Blog

There are two common themes that I see repeated throughout the Bible. The first is love, and the second is light. This is what Christ came to Earth to be, and these things are exactly what we, as his followers, are also called to be. It’s easy to get caught up in our own problems and struggles, and in all the things the world tells us we should be and should do. But we were never called to live this life solely for ourselves.

Yes, we can work to better our lives, but while we’re doing that, we should always remember to spread love and light to all we come into contact with. Matthew 5:14-16 states that we are the light of the world, a city built upon a hill, that all who see us, would see Christ in us. His light shines through us, onto others.

No matter what we are going through, we shouldn’t let that dim our light. That’s exactly what Satan wants. He wants us to get so focused on ourselves, on our problems, that we forget to be a light to others, that we find ourselves sunk down so deep in the daily grind and grime of life, that our lives could never point others to God.

The other day, I was thinking of how far behind I am in life, compared to all of my peers, and was so upset about it, that I was being flat out miserable. I wasn’t showing love or being a light at all. Thankfully, God was able to pull me out of that place in my head, and remind me, once more, that just because I don’t see him working in my life, it doesn’t mean he isn’t. There have been many times in my life, when I don’t see how anything good could ever come from the situation I’m in, and God has proven over and over to me, that He is the maker of masterpieces, and thankfully, he is not finished working on me. He is making me new, using me to shine his light, day after day.

God showed me something else that day, too. If we don’t love others, our lives are nothing. I could be exactly where all my peers are, in terms of this life, but if I don’t love others, if I don’t spread Christ’s light, I am nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:3 tells us, “If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” We could have all the riches in the entire world, all the followers on social media, but if we don’t show love for others, we are nothing. This world tells us that if we have money, followers, and status, we have it all. That couldn’t be further from the truth. You see, those things don’t focus on love, and light, and certainly not on God or others; they put the focus on me, me, me! When we’re so focused on ourselves, we forget to love God, and love others.

That is exactly what Satan wants. He delights in evil, and evil stems from hate, darkness, and indifference. So, when we’re focused on hatred, or we’re too focused on ourselves, we forget to love on others, and we fall right into Stan’s trap.  Love and light, what God calls us to be, are the exact opposite of evil’s roots. 1 Corinthians 14:13 tells us that three things will remain forever: faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love. Our houses, our clothes, our possessions, will all rot away with time; they will all be forgotten. But our love will last forever, how we spread and have shown that love will be not just our legacy, but God’s. So, by showing love and light in all we do and are, we are not just rebelling against evil; we’re creating a legacy for God that can never be destroyed.