Responding to God's Light

August 6th, 2024
by Joey Rozek

It is one thing to see the light but it is another thing to respond to the light.

Everyone is responsible to live according to the light that has been given to him. This was true for Paul the Apostle, who had just recalled his testimony to King Herod Agrippa on how the resurrected Lord showed Himself real to him and then allowed him to see the heavenly vision that would drive the rest of his days on this earth.

We all need to have a clear vision in life. Just like the blind man who the Lord spat on his eyes and touched them so that he could see "men like trees, walking" but still needed to see more clearly and so the Lord touched his eyes yet again so that he could plainly see.

Do you need the Lord to touch your eyes in a fresh way?

Perhaps, you see the Lord as your Savior who hung on a tree to take away your sins but do you have a clear understanding of His eternal purpose and the heavenly calling and vision that God desires to fulfill at this present time. Too often, we are focused only on what God desires to do in our own lives individually but we are missing the greater plan that God is carrying out for His Church, who is the bride that He is going to become one with.

Paul had received a vision of heaven where he heard "inexpressible words , which is not lawful for a man to utter" (2 Cor. 12:4). These heavenly revelations and visions are so crucial for us to see and learn from because it helps all the believes to be able to cooperate together in unity.

Just like an orchestra where each musician must learn to play his instrument in in the right way at the right time, God is calling His the individual members of His Church to do the same.
Since we live in a very individualistic culture, we must learn to get over ourselves and to not operate individually anymore seeking our own will. We all need to continually repent of any selfish or worldly thinking that is getting in the way of God's greater purpose of the shared identity we have as members of the body of Christ, the household of faith.

This eternal purpose of God is represented as God's economy or household administration on the earth. The Greek word for God's economical administrative plan and purpose is "oikonomia".

Paul uses it at different times to describe God's unfolding plan as he shares in his letter to the Ephesians, "that in the dispensation (oikonomia) of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him" (Eph. 1:10). This was the "goal of the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:14).

Since all people have fallen short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23) and therefore we naturally live for a goal that is other than the goal of the upward call of God, we must be sure to turn to God completely.

When Paul was finished sharing this testimony, he had put together a powerful case for Christ in how he fulfilled all the necessary predictions that were declared by the prophets and how Jesus' ministry was carried out openly and publicly.

Jesus’ Ministry was done OPENLY and PUBLICLY

His birth was known by kings and wise men.
His grew up like other Jewish boys in Nazareth.
His baptism was public in the Jordan River.
His teaching and miracles were all around Galilee.
His interactions with Jewish leaders in the Temple.
His arrest, trial, and death was witnessed publicly.
His tomb was known, guarded, and visited.
His resurrection was seen by 500+ people at once.

As reasonable and convincing all of this was, King Agrippa was not fully there and said these tragic words, "“You almost persuade me to become a Christian" (Acts 26:28). O how terribly sad it is when someone ALMOST BELIEVES something. Hell will be filed with people who almost made it into heaven.

Imagine if Christ "almost" died for our sins...and therefore He "almost" forgave us. Imagine if a bridegroom "almost" got married to his engaged wife but decided in the last minute not to. Or what about a man who goes to an interview and "almost" got the job...or a person went to court and was almost declared innocent but instead went to prison. Almost doesn't cut it, does it!

Praise the Lord that Jesus said, "IT IS FINISHED!" He did not say, "It is almost finished."

Therefore, let us get rid of any and all of our hindrances, blind spots, and excuses, and believe without any "almosts" getting in the way. Let us see clearly and respond to the light that is graciously given to us. There is no time for "almosts" anymore!!!

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