Jesus Lights Up Our Life

The facial expression that came to our younger son’s face when he received his first bicycle at Christmas is etched in my memory. When he saw the bike there was an instant change in his mood. He displayed a big smile and he jumped with joy, expressing his happiness. He now had his own wheels, and this reality brought sheer joy to his life. The gift lit up his life.

Recently I turned the light on in my office and noticed immediately that my potted plants were drooping badly. They were thirsty for a drink of water. So, I got my watering pot and gave them a big drink of water. Within a few hours, my plants were revived and they were standing tall. The fresh drink of water revived the plants and lit up their countenance.

The Gospel of John tells the story of the Samaritan woman who encountered Jesus at Jacob’s well. Jesus asked the woman to give him a drink of water. The woman wanted to know why a Jewish man would ask a Samaritan woman for a drink of water. During the course of the conversation, Jesus revealed to the woman that he could give her “living water.” Jesus, like the woman, came to the well to quench his thirst with a drink of water. He, however, did not seek to quench the woman’s momentary thirst. Instead, Jesus offered her living water. He told her about how the living water would quench one’s thirst for all time. Jesus said: “The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” (John 4:14c)

Naturally, the Samaritan woman wanted some of this living water so that she would not have to draw water from the well daily. Eventually, as the conversation unfolded, the woman realized that Jesus’ offer of living water was spiritual and not material. When she realized that she had met the Messiah, she got all excited and went home to tell others about her experience. She invited the people to come and meet Jesus. This encounter with Jesus at the well changed her life, because she had met “the light of the world.” Jesus lit up her life by renewing her spirit.

Debby Boone recorded the romantic song, “You Light Up My Life,” which captures the sentiment of the something that brings joy and hope into one’s life.

“And you light up my life

You give me hope to carry on

You light up my days

And fill my night with song.”

“Rollin’ at sea, adrift on the water

Could it be finally I’m turning for home

Finally, a chance to say ‘Hey, I love you’

Never again to be all alone.”

It’s like that with Jesus who lights up one’s life when one enters into a relationship with Jesus. The Samaritan woman had spent her whole life seeking love and acceptance only to be abandoned by five husbands. It is the love of Jesus Christ that will satisfy our souls. The words of John Keble come to mind:

“Sun of my soul, Thou Saviour dear,

It is not night if Thou be near,

O may no earthborn cloud arise,

To hide Thee from Thy servant’s eyes.

Come near and bless us when we wake,

Ere through the world our way we take;

Till, in the ocean of Thy love,

We lose ourselves in heaven above.”

In this Advent Season and throughout the Christian Year, let us give thanks for the joy that Jesus imbeds in our hearts and the sunshine that dwells in our souls.                                                                                 

Jesus lights up our life. Come, Lord Jesus!

Think About It!