RE Generation

Focused On The Light

turned on desk lamp

Bible Reading: Luke 11:33-36

“Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. Therefore be careful lest the light in your be darkness” (Luke 11:34-35)

Jesus came as a light to the world amidst the darkness of hearts in sin in this world. He did not hide His light, but He proclaimed the gospel message bold and clear in the synagogues and marketplaces to the multitudes. Christ, the true Light, did not hide in the cellar or under a basket. Instead, he shone on a stand so that all could see. 

The question lies with whether we see Christ’s light or not. Many amongst the crowd could only see Jesus as a charismatic teacher and prophet who performed wondrous miracles. Most could not see that He was the awaited Messiah, the Saviour of the world. 

Our eyes are the lamp to our bodies, meaning that what we see and perceive will influence who we are and how we act. If our eyes are “healthy” or, more precisely in the original language, “single-focused and without a double fold”, our whole body will be full of light. Do we want our entire lives and being to radiate a witness to Christ’s gospel? If so, we ought to pay careful attention to what we focus our eyes on. What is our vision as we wake up each day? Where are our eyes fixed? Whose approval do we look for? Whose guidance will we observe? Along with Jonathan Edwards, let us pray, “God, stamp eternity on my eyeballs”. 

If our eyes are bad, if our focus is divided, our whole body will be full of darkness. Observe how there is no in-between. If we decide to shift our focus on God and our reputation, we cannot be a glowing witness to Christ. Instead, we become one with the world in darkness. If we are focused on ourselves and do not say with Paul, “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24), we will not be any witness to anyone. To be used by God requires a sustained single heart and vision. Does God find such in us? 

Focusing our vision on Christ alone is not a one-off occasion when we surrender our whole lives to Christ. It is a daily struggle. That is why Jesus warns us, “Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness” (Luke 11:35). We must watch ourselves vigilantly in prayer and reliance on God. If we were full of light, we would shine wholly bright and be beacons of hope and truth in this world — servants used by God. But, our fleshly desires still sometimes overcomes us. Moreover, Satan is trying his best to take advantage of our weaknesses and drag us back into our sins and darkness. It’s a spiritual war and a struggle to keep our eyes focused on Christ. 

This Christmas season, I am reminded of the wise men who saw the bright light shining from afar. Though they were gentiles and came from afar, they followed the light to the baby King. Gaze fixed, they pilgrimed from far lands to offer gifts to the King and to bow down and worship Him. Will we keep our gaze focused on Christ solely to offer Him our very lives and worship Him all our days? 

Lord, clear my vision until You are all I see. Help me in my struggles against sin and a divided heart. Put to death all otherworldly desires that exist in me. Open my eyes to behold wondrous things out of Your law. Show me Your glory and let that glory transform me. Use me as Your servant and make me shine full of light. Have mercy on me, for apart from You, I can do nothing. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

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