Lit!

Lit!

Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. Isaiah 60:1 KJV

A few things precede the verse under review today: first, God will always punish sin. It does not matter how special you think you are; once sin is in the camp, you run the risk of God's anger and judgment. Secondly, it is also the nature of God to show mercy. His nature hates and punishes sin, yet the same nature shows compassion to all who turn away from sin. In fact, it is because of His compassion that we are able to return to Him. If God were to mark iniquity, nobody will be able to stand. Thirdly, God is not looking for impact that will be a flash in the pan; a one-season wonder, but a life that will leave a mark on the earth that will have eternal implications. All that God does is to raise men and women who will his ears, eyes, lips, feet and heart, representing him in all they do. Am I such a person? 

Today's extract flows from the understanding of the above. Whatever it is that may have gone before, God calls on me to arise. Whatever may have held me down: sin, fear, Satan or the flesh, it is time for me to rise up and take my rightful place in God. I must not forget: I cannot continue in sin and expect the grace of God to keep abounding. That will amount to trying to take God for a fool; whose word cannot be trusted. God will never fail to honour his word, as well as all who revere his command. You do not command a man who is already on his feet to arise; it must be addressed to people who may not be aware of who they are and what they have in God. Are there areas of my life that need to hear the command of God today to arise? Do I need to change my present position so I am able to arise?

There is also a command to shine. Now, to shine, you need light. It could have been ignorance of who I carry, or ignorance of what I have become in God that had prevented me from shining in the past, but now, the command goes out for me to arise and shine. The time for God to be made manifest in and through me has come; the time for God's power, might and mercy to be made manifest has come. God is mighty, no doubt, but in his mercy, he reflects his power through mortal men like me. When men come in contact with me, they must see God's grace in all His fullness. When men relate with me, they should know that I have also been in the presence of light. God will be glorified, whatever I do, but my life will be easier if I just fully cooperate and let God flow through me.  

The season of the manifestation of God's glory is upon us. All over the world, the mighty acts of God are obvious and He keeps revealing his ways to as many as would seek Him out of a sincere heart. I note that nothing is said about the collective; it is a personal discovery; a very personal walk with God. God is light, so if I will shine, I must be in Him. God is strength; if I will stand, it will only be by His help. God is Glory-personified; if I will shine out with His glory, I must be all for Him. Where do I stand at the moment? Who am I? How is my personal walk with God? All of these questions must be correctly answered, if my walk with God will be correct. The season we are in has no room for being lukewarm. God's time of favour is here.