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| Vol. 16 No. 2 February 2014 | Page 10 |
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| Vol. 16 No. 2 February 2014 | Page 10 |
Colin McKee
In 1980, a horror film called The Shining was produced and offered to audiences across the world. It had to do with ghosts or spirits who were disturbing mortals that were occupying a hotel. The Shining was the supposed manifestation of occult power in the film, and of course, all of it was the fanciful invention of writers and producers.
Yet, a real true shining is described in God’s Word. God promised to shine on man and in turn demanded a shining from man. In Isaiah God issued His promise for that shining and called on His people to shine His light to others.
“The Redeemer will come to Zion, and to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,” says the Lord. “As for me,” says the Lord, “this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and my words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendant’s descendants,” says the Lord, “from this time and forevermore.” Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. (Isaiah59:20-60:3)
God, the Redeemer, promised to come and make a covenant with those who turned from transgressions. That coming was the light of His salvation and He promised to “arise” over those who received it (60:2). This is parallel to Paul’s writing in 2 Corinthians 4:6, “For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” In short, that was the light of the Gospel.
Since God gave the light, He then called upon the recipients to get up and shine (60:1). Who are the “shiners” that are “shining”?
“Therefore He says, ‘Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light’” (Ephesians 5:14). He gives us light (His shining) that we may give to others “the light of His glory.” We should take to heart the words of the Psalmist, “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him” (Psalm 126:5-6).
My brother, Bob McKee, wrote a song titled “You Will Shine as the Stars” that has the theme of going to shine the light of the Gospel to others. The chorus of that song is: “Go forth sowing the seed, even weeping; God will grant you a harvest of souls by and by; and forever when this life is over, you will shine as the stars in the sky.” His people shine as bright stars when they go forth taking His Gospel to others and accompany it with a life that shines in godly living.
Ernest S. Underwood
The so called children raising experts all say that spanking or disciplining a child is wrong. “Let the child have his way, let him do as he pleases, let him make his own decisions,” they say. A lot of parents have followed such foolish advice and have lost their children to the immorality and sensuality of the world. Many parents today bemoan the fact that their children are so indifferent and unconcerned about their souls.
Parents, you should give heed to the Word of God, rather than to infidel psychologists. Listen to God’s voice: “Chasten your son while there is hope, and do not set your heart on his destruction” (Proverbs 19:18). This passage taken in the negative simply says if you refuse to chasten your child, you aid in his destruction.
“But,” says someone, “I love him too much to give stern discipline.” Really? Read what the writer of the Book of Hebrews says on the subject (12:5-11), and please read it now. After doing so, ask yourself, “Do I really love my child?”