City lights dazzle the eyes. We gravitate to city lights and light shows. The sparkling colors draw the eyes and change the paths of feet. The more the glitz, the more the the attraction. Artificial light is often associated with safety. The more light, the safer we often feel. The more light, the less alone we often feel. People flock to performances that use light effects. Holidays are marked with extra lights, especially Christmas. Lights are often used to encourage looking to draw people to encourage buying or at least change moods. Artificial night light is used to change our sense of reality. We often use artificial night light to change our view of something. Artificial light is not bad in and of itself, but when it masks real light it also presents effects that yield false conclusions.
The scene below is utterly simple. It is a night view of the Orion constellation on a still cold night. On a big city street with lots of lights, the scene cannot be seen. As dominant as the constellation is, artificial light can keep it from being seen.
God makes no mention of of the glory of city lights. Jesus’ actions were never enhanced with light shows to add a little extra draw to His message. In contrast, He draws attention to Orion and even the “near by” Pleiades as examples of “created” light that point to Him. But these things are easy to mask with the effects of screaming artificial light.
How ironic that light activity of the human race increasingly masks the very created light that God points to. Is your soul “lighted” by artificial light? It seems so helpful and safe…until the power goes off. It seems so dazzling until the power source is removed.
Go outside in a dark place on a night light like the one shown in the sketch. Turn off the porch lights, the house lights, and look up. Consider the difference between the sign post of artificial lights with the sign post of the God’s intentional placement of created lights. The lure and effects of artificial lights are like the artificial things that we think bring life. Their power is temporary, limited, and not a real picture–no matter how loud and dominant they may seem. Rather, let God be light to the soul. When the power goes off and the artificial glitz disappears, He remains.
2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
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.”
