january 31 we'll leave the light on

 
We’ll leave the light on.  I reserved a room at a motel for two nights. (Not the motel that has that slogan).  Pastoring a small church means I am often called on to give rides to the doctor or store, change a tire, give a battery jump, tow a vehicle, go to the E.R., buy gasoline or medicine or food as  I am able. Being on call twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week is a privilege but also a drain.  Physically, emotionally, financially and spiritually it drains me. I was pleased to find a room for forty-four dollars a night.  The room was fine.  The air conditioner worked well. The swimming pool felt wonderful.  The bed was comfortable. Then it happened at about 12:30 A.M.  I felt something crawling on my hand.  I quickly grabbed it and felt it’s legs prying to get loose.  I figured it was a roach but it’s legs seemed longer than a roach as I crushed it.  What if it was a scorpion or something that could sting?  I quickly flung it on the floor.  I grabbed my phone and turned on the flashlight to identify it and kill it.  It was gone.  I looked all around but couldn’t find it. My wife was still asleep. I laid back down there in the dark praying it would not crawl on my wife.  That would be funny. Well for a minute maybe.  Eventually she woke up.  I explained to her what had happened.  I explained we could go back to sleep and hope it would not return.  We could go home.  We could go to another motel.  We could keep the light on and hope it would not come out from its hiding place.  We decided to leave the light on. We tried to go back to sleep. Not successfully for several hours. We live in a world filled with spiritual darkness.  The devil and his demons live in our world.  Satan is referred to as the “god of this world.” 2 Corinthians 4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. Satan has successfully blinded our minds.  We have all sinned. Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. God doesn’t want us to live in spiritual darkness. A roach (it turned out a cricket) in the bed is bad enough but the misery of a literal hell is unimaginable.  Jesus came to draw us to His light. Luke 1:79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. I have put my faith in Him.  I walk in His light and I try to share His light. If you are saved will you leave your light on?