Just this week we started noticing the first lightening bugs of the season. I immediately thought of my walks with my Former-Worst-Best, Shenandoah. When I looked up this blog from 2018 today, it was as if I was reading it for the first time. I love how our God speaks and gives us fresh eyes and fresh insight. His teachings are true and applicable to all time. His Word never fails!
Fireflies Originally Published September 21, 2018
Look at that. See it? Look real close. That’s right! It’s a lightening bug. It is the strangest thing. Shenandoah and I take a walk early in the mornings, usually around 5:45. It’s pitch black. We walk back and forth up and down the paved road that leads to our house. It’s probably about a quarter of a mile long. Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. If you have a lab, you get it. Anyway. For the past week or so I’ve noticed something really intriguing. Lightening bugs.
These lightening bugs line either side of the paved road. I mean, a bunch of them. This is weird to me. I don’t ever remember noticing lightening bugs in the morning, only at night. Remember as a kid, on hot summer evenings, catching them in a glass jar, making a lantern of sorts? I do. But, I don’t remember ever seeing lightening bugs in the morning. It’s really very cool to see. They sit there in the grass flashing their lights on and off. Since they’re on both sides of the road, it’s almost like they’re watching a parade. You know how folks line the streets for a parade? This is the Shenandoah Parade.
As we walk back and forth, and back and forth, I begin to think about their lights. Although these lights aren’t as bright as the solar sidewalk lights, it is such a cool thing to see. I know I’m walking on the road because the surface is paved, but I also know I’m walking on the road because the lightening bugs are lining the path. I know I’m on the road because of the firefly light. Remind you of anything? How do you know you’re on the path? How do you see your path?
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
The fireflies light our way in the darkness, until light dawns. In the same way, the Word of God speaks to us and lights our way in the darkness until our light, Jesus, comes. That’s way cool!
Have you ever noticed how bright a small light shines in the darkness? Think about the stars, take a peek at them. A tiny, bright light, shining against a black backdrop. How far away is that light? The second closest star (because the sun is considered a star), is 4.24 light years away. What the heck does that mean? In a nutshell, to travel to the Proxima Centauri would take you about 20 years – yep years! That tiny, tiny star that shines so brilliantly in the dark, is about 20 years away and it outshines the darkness. You don’t see the darkness because of the light. Think on that.
Your word is a lamp for my feet and light for my path. Psalm 119:105
The Word of God. Do we need it? Do we use it? Does it light our path? How will we find our way through the darkness of the world without the Light of the World? If a tiny star can shine so brightly, just think how much more vivid the Word of God will shine in our dark world.
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
All scripture is theopneustos. Theos means God. Pneo means to breathe. The scriptures are inspired by God, breathed by God! Paul doesn’t tell Timothy that “some” of the scripture, or the parts he “agrees with” are theopneustos. He tells Timothy “all” scripture is theopneustos. All scripture is God breathed. His Word that is the lamp unto our feet and the light unto our path.
We have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. Pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a light shining in a dark place – until the day Christ appears and his brilliant light shines in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophets themselves or because they wanted to prophesy. It was the Holy Spirit who moved the prophets to speak from God. 2 Peter 1:19-20
The Word of God shines in the darkness. Just like the fireflies lit my path, God’s Word will light our path in this world. We must have God’s Word to teach us and rebuke us, to tell us of His character. We’re all on a journey. We’re all going somewhere. The Good News is that we get to choose how we make our way through the darkness of the world. In Him, there is no darkness. Choose Jesus.
Read your Bible. Don’t worry about having a study to work from. Don’t worry about not understanding the words, go to Him, the breather of The Word, and inhale. Read the words and take Him in. He will gladly reveal himself to you.
Family Bible Church is a Bible teaching Church. If you are looking for a Church home in which to learn about The Word of God, come visit us on Sundays, at 10:00 am, at 1400 Echo Street, Martinsburg.