“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”” – John 8:12 NIV
If you see something advertised online as “gently used,” you pretty much expect it to be in terrible shape. “Gently used” is a euphemism for “This is junk, but I just can’t bear to throw it out myself.” I have a gently used church. I’m not talking about Resurrection, but the little light-up glass church that I put under the Christmas tree each year. The roof is missing a corner, the handrail is bent nearly to the ground, and the cross on the steeple has long since gone missing.
As I was looking at the church, wondering if this was the year I should get rid of it, I noticed something new. The doors that I assumed were always shut were in fact open, and the light inside poured out through that opening. It reminded me of the light of Christ that shines out from churches big and small. The Church may not be perfect, but it doesn’t have to be in order to shine Christ’s light into a dark world. So I think I’ll hold on to my little church for a while longer, “gently used” as it may be. It’s a reminder that God can use less-than-perfect things, and that the only truly perfect thing is Jesus Christ, the light of the world.
“O star of wonder, star of light,
star with royal beauty bright,
westward leading, still proceeding,
guide us to thy perfect light.” – from the song “We Three Kings”
Pastor Mark