Hi, this is Joni Eareckson Tada and you're listening to Joni and Friends.
During these sultry days of July, I'm going to assume you're heading for a beach somewhere—maybe a beach by a bay, on a lake, by the ocean. And I'll tell you, there's nothing like a summertime stroll along an ocean beach, especially at twilight. You've no doubt heard me talk often about times when I was a child, camping with my family by the Delaware shore. And, during certain times of the summer, usually around July, in the early evening a remarkable phenomenon could be seen in the undersides of the waves. Depending on the tide and currents, you couldn't miss it. It was a beautiful glow in the curl of the waves—the glow of ocean plankton, little microscopic organisms that shine in the dark.
Ocean plankton, when it's heated by the sun all day long, experiences a subtle change. Exposed to light, these little microscopic organisms let off an iridescent glow when darkness falls. They seem to absorb the energy and light of the sun, almost in anticipation of the dark night ahead. They have the quality of (what they call) bioluminescence. And just what does bioluminescence mean? It literally translates “life that glows.”
Now the meaning of that is not lost on me as a believer. Especially when you consider that our great Creator, God, designed absolutely everything in his creation to—in some way, somehow—speak of His glory and greatness, and even His character and creativity. And tiny plankton in the ocean are no exception. Because when you think about it, as a follower of Jesus, you have bioluminescence. The Bible calls Jesus the Light of the World, but then in Matthew 5:14, our Savior turns right around and, before He parts this earth, He says to you and me, now, “You are the light of the world.” Friend, it is such a dark world out there, and we are to glow in the dark. We are to exude hope where there is despair, compassion where there is neglect, extend mercy where there is lack of forgiveness, offer peace where there is discord, and a helping hand wherever there is a need. But like anything else that has bio-luminescence, we can only do that as we spend time basking in and soaking up the light of Christ. If we fail to expose ourselves to the Son, well, our life simply won’t glow. But as we spend time with Jesus, our dark world will recognize the unmistakable iridescence of the divine.
So open yourself to the warmth of God's Word today. Jesus said in John 8:12, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." Follow Him, even if the path feels hard and the way seems rocky. Follow Him—make His Word a lamp unto your feet and you will never walk in darkness.
Today I encourage you to light the path of others around you, as well. And you can do so by going on line to my radio page at joniandfriends.org and asking for five Gospel tracts. They’re called Joni’s Story and they are great little booklets to give friends who don’t know Jesus—especially if that friend or neighbor of yours just fell ill with a disability. Oh, and while you’re on my radio page, take a look at the clip from the Joni movie and tell your friends. Remember, you are the light of the world and no light is meant to be hidden. This summer, let the love of Jesus shine from your life; it’s the best way to dispel darkness and doubt.
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