The Shadow Proves the Sunshine

[. . .] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth [. . .] (Philippians 2:10)

O LORD my God, you have performed many wonders for us.

Your plans for us are too numerous to list.

You have no equal.

If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds,

I would never come to the end of them.

You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings.

Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand—

you don’t require burnt offerings or sin offerings.

Then I said, “Look, I have come.

As is written about me in the Scriptures:

I take joy in doing your will, my God,

for your instructions are written on my heart.”

I have told all your people about your justice.

I have not been afraid to speak out,

as you, O LORD, well know.

I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart;

I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power.

I have told everyone in the great assembly

of your unfailing love and faithfulness. (Psalm 40:5–10 NLT)

There is a theological proof that states that in the same way shadows are the evidence the sun exists, it is the darkness in life that proves there is a Light in our world. In essence, the shadow proves the sunshine – the pain, suffering, and injustice we see all around us is proof there is another way of living, a different kind of life that is true and good and wonderful, and there is a good God as the source of that Light.

Another way of saying this is found in Romans 2:15, “Their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right.” Written on the hearts of every man and woman are the truths of God’s instructions.

Not everyone agrees with this assessment, namely those who do not acknowledge God as the sovereign of the universe and lord over their lives. But the truth remains – all of us know there is a difference between right and wrong, justice and injustice, healthy and unhealthy habits.

Whether we acknowledge him or not, Jesus is on the throne, and all existence will ultimately bow to his authority. For those of us who have already bent our knees in worship to the King over all kings, it is our duty to be like David, who writes, “I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart; I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power” (Psalm 40:10a).

But we must not keep the beauty of the good news only on our lips; the good news must also be shared through our hands, our ears, our bodies, through every act and action we take. David notes in this psalm that God does not delight in burnt sacrifices, but instead he is seeking a sacrifice of the heart, that we will “take joy in doing your will, my God.”

Micah 6:6–8 proclaims a similar understanding of what the Lord requires of us, but the minor prophet elaborates a bit, noting that God does not simply want us to walk humbly in his will but to do justice and to love mercy. When we seek to right the wrongs of a broken world in the name of Christ, we are proclaiming the Good News by making ourselves into living sacrifices, acting as servants of the Light who shines into the dark places of our world.

Look for ways today to be a servant of the Light of the world, shining his light in the darkness and thereby proclaiming the Gospel to those who need it.
 
 
Michael Benson is the communications director for the North American Baptist Conference.