Lack of Sun Exposure or Son Exposure?

As the weather is starting to warm up, church members have been working diligently to maintain the church property. As I was looking for projects to assist in, I noticed the retaining wall behind the church property could use a good pressure washing. Because the sun does not hit the wall as much as other places, there was a mildew build up among other things. As I was washing, I got to thinking about how much this analogy could serve as a great illustration for biblical truth. The retaining walls got covered with all sorts of mildew from lack of sun exposure. In the darkness and damp, bacteria and mold are allowed the thrive, grow, and fester. I have done a lot of work on mission trips to help restore and fix up properties as a means to sharing the gospel. One of the items I disliked the most was hearing that there was water damage. Upon hearing that, you knew that you were in for one messy project, and most likely there was going to be mold among other things. It is important to remove and replace the wet moldy surfaces in addition to fixing the problem that caused the damage to begin with.

You may be sitting there asking the question, “Well how does the sun help?” The sun rays not only keep surfaces dry, but the UV rays in the sun are effective as well in diminishing growths of mildew and mold. Even our own physical bodies need sun exposure as well as a host of other living things. I hope that each and everyone reading this has gotten a chance to get out in the sun and enjoy the warmer weather during the stay-at-home orders. If sun exposure is helpful and necessary, what about Son exposure? Are we walking in the light of Christ? If not, bad things and sin have a chance to take a foothold in the shadows of our lives.

John writes in 1 John 1:5-7, “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” There is no doubt that these uncertain times come with certain challenges. Are we getting daily exposure to the Son? Are we walking with Him in the light? Let us continue to walk in the light and continue to confess and forsake sin.

Perhaps you are sitting out there today feeling like the retaining wall at the church covered in mildew. In the darkness, sin was allowed to fester and grow unchecked. Would you turn to the Lord, the only one qualified and capable to cleanse and restore? John continues to write in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Let us not seek to hide from the light as described in John 3:19-20, but run towards it with reckless abandonment.

Another item to consider is, are we concealing the light or reflecting it? We are not only called to walk in the light, but also reflect it. Jesus said in Matthew 5:14-16, “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.” If we are in Christ, we can no longer remain anonymous. We must step out from the crowd and walk to the beat of a different drum from the rest of the world. Let the light of Christ be reflected from us into the those around us. Maybe you have family, neighbors, friends, co-workers, and others in the community that need to be exposed to the light. Would you boldly reflect Christ today in this world, and continue to do so until we meet Him face to face?