This past Wednesday coming home from helping at the Live Stream for church was quite a drive. Most of us experienced a crazy storm just minutes before. I received a few texts that said to stay safe or wait there before coming home. As the rain settled to a drizzle I headed out. What I saw was unbelievable. Such a powerful storm, knocked down trees, cars pulled over, a couple accidents, road closures and it seemed a power grid was knocked out. It was a rough drive being redirected and going down dark roads even with my headlights on. I could’ve used some extra light on the situation. It got me thinking about the importance of those telephone lines, powerline poles and street lights.
Along the roads we travel we can see strung along the way telephone lines as well as power lines and street lights. They’re sort of unsightly, imperfect poles of wood with cross outstretched cross beams on the top stuck in the ground…quite noticeable along the way. But if we try to overlook that and think about the communications, light and energy that is carried by those lines…it is quite awesome to think that those poles stuck so deeply in the ground support like some kind of “lifeline”. The world has become quite dependent on these poles, lights and lines…it gives life to the community and households all over.
Made me reflect on another rough post in the ground with a beam across the top that at one point in my life I looked up to…you know what I mean? Yes, the cross on which Jesus was lifted.
Then God lets me know that I should be such a pole. As a matter of fact, I would hope that as Christians, we are ALL poles. Come on…think about it. Let’s be creative here.
Street lights shine light in darkened places. They pierce the night’s blackness. They give us light on the road we travel. When those in darkness look at you, do they see the Light you are carrying? Do you hold the Light high enough to help them find their way to Christ?
Matthew 5:14-15 You are the light of the world – like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don’t hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all.
Power lines carry energy to turn things on in our homes. Do you carry an “energy” in your life that others want to tap into? Are you a source of power to people? Have you turned anyone on to Christ?
Acts 1:8 When the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere.
I know we live in the age of cell phones, but many of us still have a “land line” to the house. Or those power lines are helping us charge our cell phones. Phones give us open communication. Are we passing on messages of hope to others? Are we sharing our faith in a communicative way? Have you stopped to talk with a friend or even a stranger and lifted their spirits and encouraged them in their faith?
Psalms 89:1-2 I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever. With my mouth I will make known His faithfulness to all generations.
Ephesians 5:18-20 …Let the Holy Spirit fill and control you. Then you will sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, making music to the Lord in your hearts. And you will always give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I often use Psalm 119:105 to explain this kind of point. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
I think of a car…it has headlights to use in the dark BUT the streetlights add more light to where you are going. There are some who know “enough Bible” to have headlights on their spiritual journey but there are times when streetlights along that journey make it is so much clear when not familiar with where you are and its “dark out”. We need Godly people in the right places shining light along other’s journey. I know I’ve benefited in the past.
It is important to realize that for all the light, power and communications that pass through these lines, the poles are there to SUPPORT these things. These poles do NOT create anything to cause the outcome of the lines. Just the same, we are NOT the originators of what flows through the lines we support. We are carriers, conduits and supporters of what God wants to do through us by way of the Holy Spirit. In our lives, we are to support the ministry or call that God has given to us. Just as these poles are driven into the ground, we are to be deeply rooted, driven in, in our faith, placed strategically right where God would have us to be. This does take some work to be grounded, rooted and supportive in our call. The deeper the grounding the stronger and longer the pole stands. The same again goes for our faith. You can also notice how there are MANY poles connected to carry the power…keep that in mind…from pole to pole to pole. That is what is should be like…as Christians we need to stay together for a common goal…connected through Christ but each put in our own special spot using the different abilities God has given each of us.
John 12:32-36 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” This He said, signifying by what death He would die. The people answered Him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?” Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”
Be Bold, Be Blessed,
Pastor Steve