do you see light?

I watched a Discovery Channel program the other night about how our brain “sees” color. It was very interesting. One of the things our brain does, all on its own, is interpret what we are looking at according to the knowledge we have. In other words, as a child you were told that the leaves on trees are green, and that is how you will see them even if there is no sunshine illuminating them. Many people who have been asked as witnesses in an accident or other occurrence at night testify that they saw green trees, even though that is impossible. Our brain “sees” what it has been trained to see.
The neuroscience behind this is fascinating. Our brain is more than just an organic computer (info that goes in turns into knowledge). It processes the information input to a level that is not only split-second, but can make our bodies react in split seconds, too. Saving us from disaster at certain times.
But what I found fascinating was the explanation of how we see “color.” All our vision comes from the light that is reflected on what we are looking at. If you have ever been deep in a cave, where absolutely no light reaches, you will see absolutely nothing….not even your hand right in front of your face. It is impossible to see because there is no light at all.

Colors are created by the type of light from the sun that is in the atmosphere. Besides the polarized light that bombards us, there is ultra-violet light, which humans can’t see without special lenses and adaptations, being emitted all the time. Many cats, however, can see ultra-violet light, and if you notice a cat staring intently off into nothing, it could be they are looking at something you cannot see.
The “color” white is in actuality the reflection of the entire visible light spectrum. Black is not a color at all: a black object absorbs all the colors of the visible spectrum and reflects none of them to the eyes. When you paint with water colors and dip your brush into one color, then clean that color off your brush in a bowl of water and get the next color and do the same thing, over and over, eventually the water will turn black because it has absorbed all the colors you have put into it.
Spiritually speaking, no wonder heaven is described as needing no sun or moon because God Himself is the light…He is the epitome of ALL the reflected light there is or ever could be. In fact, He is blinding in His radiance. Therefore, Heaven will hold beauty we cannot fathom, nor has “eye ever seen.”
Hell, with Satan the father of all Darkness, will be the exact opposite. Many people argue whether there will be flames that do not consume in Hell or not. Okay, debate that. What I do know, and our science confirms, is that without the Light of God, wherever Hell is, it will be totally pitch black. Twenty-four and seven. For eternity. I cannot think of a worse place than that. Never being able to see anything, anyone, forever.
That is why I know the darkness that fell over the earth at the moment our Savior died on the cross must have been terrifying. The moment God’s light was removed from the earth.
And that is why I praise God’s Mercy and Grace for loving me enough to give me eternal life with Him. He has provided perfect light and a perfect place for us to see His Glory. And we are to enjoy that Glory with Him, forever.

by Cindy Best

a carol for advent

Rejoice, rejoice, believers, And let your lights appear;
The evening is advancing, And darker night is near.
The bridegroom is arising And soon is drawing nigh.
Up, pray and watch and wrestle; At midnight comes the cry.

The watchers on the mountain Proclaim the bridegroom near;
Go forth as He approaches With alleluias clear.
The marriage feast is waiting; The gates wide open stand.
Arise, O heirs of glory; The bridegroom is at hand.

The saints, who here in patience Their cross and sufferings bore,
Shall live and reign forever When sorrow is no more.
Around the throne of glory The Lamb they shall behold;
In triumph cast before Him Their diadems of gold.

Our hope and expectation, O Jesus, now appear;
Arise, O Sun so longed for, Over this benighted sphere.
With hearts and hands uplifted, We plead, O Lord, to see
The day of earth’s redemption That sets Your people free!

By Laurentius Laurentii, 1660-1722

shining lights

I have loved the focus on “Light” this Christmas at church.  The lights of Christmas decorations inside homes and other outside lights are my favorite things about this season.

In fact, I’m pretty sure I’m going to leave up several of the “light motifs” I’ve used in decorating our dining area all year long—makes the winter months more bearable.   I am a real romantic and lots of candles and soft lighting just can’t be beat in my book.

My focus for this little devotional is Matthew 5:15, “Let your light shine brightly before men, so they may see your good deeds.”

Have you ever noticed the flame underneath a gas water heater?  There is an orange flame which surrounds a blue center flame.  When you enter a dark basement, you can see those two flames burning so brightly, but when you turn on the overhead light they all but disappear.

Imagine that flame representing Christ in our lives, and the overhead light being our own strong will.  As long as “we” are dark, Christ can shine within us.  But as soon as “we” light ourselves up, the light given by Christ becomes almost invisible.

Yes, we need to let our light shine before men, but we must remember who controls that light within us—not we ourselves but our Savior.

The apostle Paul said, “It is not me that’s living, but Christ living in me.”  I think that’s a great way to put it!

This Christmas season, I’m going to specifically ask my Heavenly Father to let my light shine, and to help me not get so wrapped up in my own glowing that I forget to let the Light of the World do the illuminating.  I want to bring glory to His name, not my own.

If you’d like to read a couple more verses on this, try Luke 14:11 and I Peter 5:6.

Enjoy a drive around the neighborhoods, or the Jolly Holiday of Lights tour and think about the one and only true Light!

by Cindy Best