SODIUM CHLORIDE AND PHOTONS
Dear Church,
God’s word to our church for 2010 is clear – “Be an influence, shine for Jesus and show others the way”.
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 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 5:13-16)
Salt or Sodium Chloride has the very special qualities to preserve meat and to enhance flavor. Light dispels darkness and helps us walk in the right direction.
Salt (Sodium Chloride) – with its unique property of preservation – is most needed in an atmosphere that is conducive to degradation or corruption. Light – elementary particle of light called the “photon”- is most needed in deep darkness.
The devil has unleashed his destructive forces at all fronts and we, Christians in the nation of Malaysia, are truly placed here “in such a time as this” (Esther 4:14). It is not the time to flee or to fear but it is a time to rise up to our true calling and know that Christians in this nation will truly be beacons of light and hope. God has given each of us the power to protect and preserve our nation and show our neighbors the way to life. Let us fill up our bowls of incense so that God can send us His deliverance.
“For God, who said, ‘Let there be light in the darkness,’ has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.” (2 Corinthians 4:6-7)
It is a time for courage, a time to embrace our calling (as salt and light and as custodians of this nation) and a time to take our stand on our knees.
The Lord spoke very clearly to us a few Sundays back when He showed Grace a vision during the worship. Here is her account:
As I worshipped the Lord, I saw a lamp which appeared unlit in the midst of darkness. “Light that lamp, Lord”, my heart prayed. As soon as those words left my heart, the lamp started drawing near to me which was reminiscent of my deep encounter with God’s glory in Portland Oregon in 1997.
In any case, the lamp came into me and lighted up. Soon, in my mind’s eye, I saw this unimaginable, inexhaustible light (like plasma or fusion or fission taking place) that shone out. My perspective became that of a light on a hill overlooking a city. The Spirit spoke, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14 – 16)
I turned to Pastor Ron with amazement and whispered, “I think the Lord is saying to us that we are the light of the world and need to shine.” He said he was using the same passage that morning. What a God-incident. In any case, on reflection, I realized a better word for that inexhaustible light within us, is the ’shekinah’ glory of God. That same light spoken of by Apostle John in Revelation 22:5. “There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.”
We are rulers with God in this life. Let our light shine forth in such a time as this in our nation!
Only Believe,
Pastor Ron Hee
