For most of us, the voice of Jon Snow is in our heads telling us that winter is coming. In a way, it is. That is if we, the Church, don’t stop it.

We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

John 9:4-5 (ESV)

Can anyone work in the dark? This isn’t a philosophical question. Can you actually do your job in complete darkness? I can’t, off the top of my head, think of a single vocation that would require anyone to work in complete darkness. And any job that takes place at night or in dark places requires light. The more light the better.

Taking a very practical approach to what Jesus said regarding the coming of night, we need to get to work, Church! And we need light to do it. If Jesus is the light of the world and Jesus is in us, that means that we are the light of the world. That light seems to be dimming in many places. This Little Light of Mine isn’t sung as loudly as it used to be. In fact, many people filling the pews of churches have no idea that they are supposed to be a light in the darkness.

The principle is simple. Much like kinetic energy, once you get going, it’s easy to keep going. So long as we are doing the work God called us to do, the light keeps shining. It’s when the work dwindles that the light fades.

In the passage we read today in John 9, Jesus comes upon a blind man. The disciples, thinking as the rabbis were teaching at the time, assumed that the man or his parents had sinned resulting in the man’s affliction.

Jesus answered, “It was not this man’s sin or his parents’ sin that made him blind. This man was born blind to that God’s power could be shown in him.”

John 9:3 (NCV)

What would happen if the Church stopped trying to reason out why things happen and started doing what we were meant to do – show God’s glory and power? I imagine that our little lights would become glowing beacons lighting up the night pushing the power of darkness back. One miracle would lead to another miracle and soon it would snowball and the world wouldn’t be able to help but take notice. It’s difficult to ignore a spotlight in your eyes.

Let your light shine. Let it shine. Let it shine. Let it shine.

Daily Bible reading: 1 Chronicles 11-13; John 9:1-23