By Waylon Bailey
My family loves exploring caves. Actually, we don’t really explore as much as we take guided tours.
We rarely pass a cave on vacation without stopping and spending a couple of hours inside the cave.
In some ways, you might think if you’ve seen one cave you’ve seen them all. On the other hand, each cave is different and distinct. There is something very unusual about getting to see inside the earth.
One of the things that happens every time you take a guided tour is that the guide will stop everyone and, after warning them, will turn off the lights.
No matter how many times I go through that drill, I am always amazed at how dark it gets. You literally cannot see your hand in front of your face.
There is one other thing equally as amazing. That is, even a very small amount of light – – like a match or cigarette lighter – – will allow you to see more than you thought possible.
I relate my experience in caves to spiritual things in two ways.
First, we live in a very dark world. All you have to do is look at the events in Las Vegas to know that the world is very dark and seems to be getting even darker.
Second, even a little light makes a huge difference.
Some people look at our world and wish they could have lived at a better time in history. While I sympathize with that sentiment (even as I write this I am viewing a flag flying at half mast in memory of those injured and killed in Las Vegas), I am thankful that God has trusted you and me to live in this time and to have the opportunity to show the light of Christ through our lives and our witness.
We live in a time that is so dark that the light of the world brightens everyone’s life. If all we can do is shine a little light, we can be a blessing to other people and, hopefully, see them come to the truth of Christ.
What is the really good news? It is that we have more than just a little light. We have Scripture, the testimony of many faithful believers, the church, and the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Let us give thanks for the light, and let us let our light shine in a dark world.
Waylon Bailey is pastor of First Baptist Church in Covington and a past president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. This editorial first appeared in Bailey’s blog, which can be accessed here.
