Shortage of Light
	Tomorrow (December 22, 2011) will be the shortest day of the year as far as daylight is concerned. Today is only a fraction of a second longer, but tomorrow is still officially shorter. In case you’re interested, sunrise will be at 7:26 tomorrow, and sunset at 5:25, giving us nine hours, fifty-nine minutes, and 25 seconds of daylight. (Actually that’s in Dallas – we might be a second or two less, but I doubt we’ll notice.) Fortunately, starting on the 23rd, the period of daylight will start increasing by several seconds each day.
	Personally, I like daylight. One of the things I dislike most about returning from daylight saving time to standard time is that when I leave my office in the evening, the sun is nearly down! When we lived in Kansas (considerably north of here), sunset was about 20 minutes earlier than here, so I drove home with my headlights on!
	The Bible says that “God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). Of course light, in that context, is a metaphor for righteousness and knowledge, whereas darkness represents ignorance and sin. God’s nature is such that He possesses infinite knowledge and is infinitely righteous.
	God’s word is also referred to in Scripture as light. The inspired psalmist wrote, “You word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). Peter describes God’s word as “a light that shines in a dark place” (2 Peter 1:19). And listen to Paul’s words to the brethren in Corinth: “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this world has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:4-6).
	Jesus Himself said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12). He also told His disciples, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).
	There is a critical shortage of light in this world. Just as we look forward to lengthening periods of daylight, let us also make a concerted effort to let our light shine longer and brighter each day. We can do that by being in Bible classes every time they meet. We can let out light shine by visiting the sick and others who cannot be out and about. A phone call or note of encouragement might be a welcome light in someone’s otherwise dreary day. Obviously, helping someone to learn the gospel would be letting your light shine to dispel the darkness of ignorance and sin. God has blessed us with the light of Christ and His word. In the words of the children’s song, “I’m gonna let it shine – let it shine all the time, let it shine!”
	--Joe Slater (Justin, TX)