Pay Attention to the Light

Early this morning, while it was still dark outside, my eyes kept being drawn to light. When I first woke up, a nearly full moon, white and round, was shining brightly across the lake and through my bedroom window. It was so bright I thought a light had been left on somewhere in the house overnight.

Later, as I lugged the garbage to the end of the driveway, I happened to look up. Stars. Everywhere! They were stunning, their constellations so crisp and clear.

A few minutes later, with my freshly brewed coffee in hand, I sat down in a dark sunroom to pray. The light of a softly glowing candle flickered beside me, coaxing me to step gently and slowly into a new day.

Each time I noticed one of these early morning gifts of light, my heart leapt a little higher in gratitude. Sure, their brightness couldn’t rival the sun, but they were bright enough to be a blessing in the dark.

My morning Bible reading then took me to the first chapter of II Peter where I read:

All of this makes us even more certain that what the prophets said is true. So you should pay close attention to their message, as you would to a lamp shining in some dark place. You must keep on paying attention until daylight comes and the morning star rises in your hearts. (II Peter 1:19 CEV)

Peter had just finished telling his readers about the transfiguration of Christ and how it had confirmed to him, beyond a doubt, who Jesus is. Peter was writing to believers who were holding firmly to the truth they had been given, but he knew it was important to keep reminding them that they could have full confidence in what the apostles had told them.

Peter had seen Jesus with his own eyes. He had heard Him with his own ears. They had not. Peter had witnessed the glory of God in the face of Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration. He had seen Moses and Elijah on that mountaintop and even heard the voice of the Father. These people hadn’t.

It was as if Peter had seen the blazing sun; but all they had, by comparison, was a dim little candle in a dark room or the pinprick of a star in the night sky. But Peter tells them they can trust that little light. They can be certain of the glimpse of God they had seen through his testimony and through the message of ancient prophets. He wants them to keep their eyes focused on that glimmer until Jesus comes and they see His full daylight glory for themselves.

“Attention” — I think and talk and write a lot about attention. What we dwell on dictates so much of our existence. Attention is powerful. What we pay attention to is what we develop affection for. And, together, attention and affection guide our will and steer the very course of our lives. Peter knew this too. “Pay close attention,” he wrote. Keep on paying attention to the light in this dark world. The Light of Christ cannot and will not be snuffed out. We are guaranteed that all of this ends in daylight, not in darkness!

So today, when you see light in any form, remember this: Things may not be as bright as they could be nor as clear as they will be, but keep paying attention to Jesus — the Light of the World. Even if the darkness grows darker around you, His light will rise within you. Keep your gaze fixed on the horizon, because broad daylight in the Kingdom of God is coming!