Power Lines

Winds have ripped through my home state in the past 24 hours causing major power outages scattered abroad. So severe is the damage, the utility company is reporting this is the worst in their history, with over a million customers left in the dark.

My best friend said this morning, as soon as the first power line fell, the utility began calling for back-up from two or three states over; in hopes that upon their arrival, the storm would be over and they could get a jump on assessing the situation and getting grids brought back online.

Despite people's best efforts to make the most of a frustrating situation, being left in the dark isn't very fun. Sure, the candles and blankets are romantic, depending on if any kids are around, in which case it's just loads of fun, unless they are easily frightened. Staying with family and friends is a joy until someone realizes why you don't live in the same neighborhood in the first place.

We love you, but I'd like my space back. (if anything, I'm more likely to hear this than to say it, but I guess that might depend on who was over, if I were the host). You know how it goes.

As I consider though, the plight of the western world being left dark, I couldn't help but be reminded of the spiritual plight of this world... left in the eternal darkness short of living a life illuminated by the truth of the Gospel of Christ.

For inasmuch as the utility company was scrambling for reinforcements and skilled labor to bring towns and communities back "on-line", so to, the church needs to be scrambling to bring people "in-line" to God through the person of Jesus Christ.

I for one, know I should and could be doing more. Yet, in this technology-driven world (as my phone charges via my laptop, my youngest stands by grandpa playing with her leapfrog tablet and the oldest sits with grandma playing on her kid kindle fire), it's easy... perhaps too much so, to not be concerned about those going without the luxuries of this modern age. How much do we consider their plight should they miss the eternal luxury of heaven by being left in the vast darkness of eternity outside of the presence of the glory of God.

May it not be so. The utility company spent almost the entire day before they started issuing estimated times for power restoration. May we not lose any time in delaying the opportunity to tell people how much longer they are to wait in spiritual darkness.

For as much as we want the lights turned on (and now), all the more, may people desire a spiritual awaking to the light of Christ. For we are His light to the world.

Pray, this #missionsFriday, that it would be a day of spiritual light-switches being flicked on towards God. May many lives be activated as the truth of God's Word illuminates hearts and minds. Pray that the blinders of this life would be cast aside and the desire for the light of Jesus Christ to transform our lives. May we not be distracted by the temporal pleasures and set-backs of this earth, but focused on the joys of heaven, content with the blessings of God that He has bestowed upon humanity.

May the people of God work as tirelessly as the linemen
That hearts would be brought online to the things of God
Long before we worry about whether power grid is functional.
For whatever power this earth produces; it pales in comparison
To the power of God at work in the lives of humanity.
For those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.
For the cause of Jesus Christ.

- PNC

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