Lumens 04-23-2025

I saw an ad for a new spotlight that’s 4-times brighter than a car headlight. It made me ask, “how bright do I shine?” In his sermon on the mount Jesus said “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 others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”  (Matthew 5:15-16) I’m told an oil lamp in Jesus’ day would emit about 500 lumens of light. That’s a little less than a 40 watt bulb. And so in a world of darkness people are drawn to the light of a single lamp. But here’s the problem according to Apostle Paul, “Satan himself masquerades as an angle of light. (2 Corinthians 11:14) Again I ask myself, “do I shine the truth of Jesus brighter than the false light of Satan?” I choose to be a “100 watt light (1600 lumens) living 100% according to Ephesians 8:8-9 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) So let’s shine through goodness, righteousness and truth. PK