The Word Says:
“Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.”
Verse Thoughts:
The two commands are to arise and shine. We are not allowed to live passive lives. This is why entertainment and other such activities, though not wrong in themselves, easily become moral issues. We need to think concretely what the Lord would have us do: Arise and Shine.
“Arise.” We need to cease walking with the world. This might not be comfortable or easy. The world might even demand that we live with them. But we must refuse. We are mission oriented. No matter what the costs, we must step out of line from the world and live by God’s heartbeat. We need to arise from compromises of the world where we become indebted and strive for the glory of God’s kingdom.
“Shine.” It is not good enough if we only arise. We must shine. We must get involved. We must become active. I recently heard Paul who was urged to sign up for two professional baseball teams. Instead he chose to work bringing the gospel to the Chinese getting by on a bare minimum of subsistent. We must refuse to be those who sift through their treasures and then put them away. We must consider it sin to be easily offended and give up on the task God has set us to. We must shine at all costs.
What then is this great occasion that calls us to sacrifice all? What is this call that demands us to drop all for the sake of all?
Life change is demanded because of God’s revelation of His glory in our lives. Our focus once upon the earth is now turned to the heavens. Light has come. No matter how dark or dim our circumstances might be, our light has come. This light is nothing less than the great and glorious presence of Jehovah.