Is your world filled with opposition from all sides and none are there to stand with you?
Consider the fellow in this scripture. The whole region knew him and his problems. They had long tried to contain him, remove him, kill him, but they couldn’t. He was likely on the “most wanted” list of his day. Then he was delivered and healed in a dramatic show of power and grace. And all the town knew this too. They could see what God had done. They understood well what a miracle it was.
Yet, the town turned Jesus away. They wanted no part of Jesus or His miracles. They fully rejected God. So naturally this fellow wanted to go with Jesus! Wouldn’t you? Would you want to stay behind with the people that rejected your Savior? But that is exactly what Jesus told him to do, stay. Alone. And be the light.
Wow… What a difficult mission! His job was to be the constant light to those people of darkness. His command was to share his story. Not to preach, not to condemn, but to glow with the light of God and share his own story. To live surrounded by the darkness that rejected Christ, and just glow.
Some are called to be a light in the darkness, and doing that requires … Well.. Being surrounded by darkness! Being in a difficult and unsavory environment. We don’t all get to live in church with friends… No… Some live as a light in a dark land.
Did his town listen? Did they eventually repent? We don’t know. Perhaps that fellow lived his entire live sharing his story with all who would listen, but none did. Or perhaps he converted the entire region over time. We don’t know. What we do know is this. Light bulbs are most effective in the darkness.
Are you surrounded by darkness? Do people ridicule and attack you? Is your world dark and gloomy? Don’t hide in the shadows, turn up the light! Wherever you are today, if God is in control, then He placed you there or left you there. Wherever you find yourself, just glow! Be the light! Don’t curse the darkens, spread the light of Christ to all around.
Sometimes God says to just stay, and glow.