Arise, Shine For Thy Light Is Come
Isaiah 60:1Â
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Matthew 5:14-16
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
The Absence Of Light
Where there is no light, darkness prevails.
A king sent me a gift and gave his subjects who had to transverse four states to get the gift to me. I felt so highly honoured for the gift and cherished it so much that I kept it saved away not knowing how to operate it because of its complexity and the value I attached to it.
My children who at that time were still in secondary school not knowing the worth of the phone, ended up using it to play music and games till it got destroyed. I did not for one day enjoy the use of that great treasure because I did not take time to study the manufacturer’s manual to know how to operate it.
Similarly, we have a big Sony WEGA Television in our house that we never enjoyed because we have never taken our time to study how to operate it. Most families in the world today can be likened to the above scenario.
Every product comes with a manual. The manual is intended to help users know and enjoy the use of the product. If we ignore the manufacturer’s manual to depend on other user’s supposed experience, chances are that we will end up making the same mistakes that they made.
A Closer Look at The Topic:
Restoring
Present continuous tense of RESTORE which is to:
- Put back in place Re-establish
- Bring back into existence
- Bring back to a previous condition or state
- Bring back that which has been lost or taken
Light
Light talks about: Illumination, it dispels darkness, gives warmth, joy, peace, good health, productivity and prosperity. (THINK on these things).Â
The Glory Of God
- Generally, typifies / represents the awesome presence of God.
- Overwhelming great beauty, splendour and powerful presence of God.
- Honour, admiration, or distinction and high reputation accorded to God.
The idea of restoration often suggests either that one had lost the possession of a treasure and needs to get it back or that there is/are something(s) one ought to have had which he was not aware of until now. In either of the cases, and until the possession is restored, one will continue to suffer the absence of that possession. Restoring the light and glory of God in our families therefore implies that these treasures are absent and thus families are deprived of the benefits that comes along with them. The idea here is not just to have the light and glory of God restored in our families on a one off bases but also to retain and live it continually as a way of life for all around us to see and drawn into.
In practical life, the mind of the manufacturer of a product can be known from the potentials built into the product to fulfill purpose.
When God made man (human being), He put them into families and gave them manual to help guide them to fulfill their purpose of creation. To enjoy the light and glory of God in our families, we must follow the manual (the WORD) of the originator of families.
What Our Families Should Be Like
- An example of Godly family to others around.
- Homes where the presence of God dwells. Godly family, living in the fear of the Lord
- The salt of our environment
- The light to all around us.
- Where people come to drink of the well of life.
- Of one mind-unity of purpose.
How To Achieve This
Through the Word of God. (1Sam 4 21- 22).
When the ARK (the place of the WORD of God) is absent, the glory of God departs.
• The glory of God dwells wherever His Word is (IKg 8:9-11)
• Through obedience to the WORD of God (Josh. 1:8). At the marriage feast in Canaan of Galilee, Jesus’ mother said to the servants… “whatsoever he saith unto you, do it” … (Jn 2:5).
You can never miss it going by the WORD of God no matter how it may seem or sound to you. It is in doing whatsoever the word of God says that we get results.
The Word of God for the Family
“And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him” (Gen 2:18).
“And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed” (Gen 2:23-25).
Provision for the Family
“But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel “. (1Tim 5:8).
We can deduce from the above scripture that provision for the family is a joint responsibility and not just for the head alone.
Family In the Garden
“And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it” (Gen 2:15).
Here is what God is saying:
- Dress it: make the garden more beautiful and attractive.
- Keep it: maintain and sustain the garden
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Knowing the value of the WORD of God, King David, the wise Psalmist writes (Ps. 119:11, 16, 105, 130.)
To restore (continually retain and maintain) God’s light and glory in our families, we must bring back the Word of God (JESUS) into our homes (Jn 1:1; 8:12; 12:46).
The Word of God Our Family's Light and Glory
All creatures and families live and are sustained by the WORD of God. The Word of God is the world and all there is in it (Jn 1:3). In the beginning was the word (Jn 1:1, 14). It is the only light that can illuminate our families (Jn 8:12). Lamb of God (John 1:29). It is the bread of life (Jn 6:35).
Live Him, and you will have life. Love Him, for He is love.
Befriend Him, for He is our friend. Speak Him, for He is the Word of life. (1Jn 1:1). He is all the sacrifice we need to make. (Eph 5:2). He is our all and all and all in all.
The WORD of God is a person, He is JESUS. Practice the word, live the Word, meditate on it. Invite Him into your family and your home will glow.
Now that we know or rather have been informed in Isaiah 60:1 that the light and glory of the Lord has risen upon us, let light of God (the WORD) come and shine in our respective families for as of a matter of urgent need and call arise the world to see and be drawn to our God.
To achieve this, there must of a necessity be a bringing back and re- establishment of illumination, knowledge, understanding and harmony that will dispel every darkness in our families through the awesome presence of God’s overwhelming great beauty and splendor.
God bless you.
Bro. Emmanuel Esun
