Ron Hutchcraft Ministries - Light Where It's Needed - #4273

Wednesday, May 28, 2003

"Mister Rogers is dead." That was a tough newsflash for a whole lot of people. Fred Rogers, in his trademark cardigan sweater, had created a TV neighborhood that was an island of decency and innocence in the sea of not-so-decent television. He was an uplifting influence on generations of kids, with "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" airing nationally in the United States for 34 years. In an interview a few years ago, Fred Rogers was asked what motivated him to get into TV in the first place. I was surprised at his answer. He said, "I got into television because I hated it so." That's an interesting answer.

Well,

I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Light Where It's Needed."

It sounds like Mister Rogers didn't like what he saw on television. But did he curse the darkness? No - he turned on a light. Which, as I understand it, is what Jesus had in mind for anyone who follows Him. John 1:5 described the impact of Jesus' coming to our world this way: "The light shines in the darkness."

And according to our word for today from the Word of God, that seems to be what He expects you and me to be doing. In Matthew 5:14 , Jesus said, "You are the light of the world." And then, "Let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." He didn't say evacuate your world or hide from your world or complain about your world, but light your world! Like Fred Rogers and his antipathy toward television, you decide to invade a darkness you don't like with an alternative that illuminates that dark corner.

Our tendency as Christians is to put all the lights in one room together and then leave the rest of the house in total darkness. We need to spread out our lights into every dark corner, showing what Jesus is like in places where Jesus is little known or little honored. Jesus calls us to infiltrate our world, not retreat from it. That's why He prayed for His followers this way: "My prayer is not that You take them out of the world but that You protect them from the evil one." (John 17:15 )

There are plenty of dark places - places where much that happens there should be repugnant to someone in whom God's Holy Spirit lives. That's Holy Spirit. But those places are not to be abandoned to the darkness by retreating Christians. If we don't take the Light there, who will? You may look at your school, your workplace, your profession, your neighborhood, your local media as a place full of darkness. Or you may hate a lot of what you see in the military or in your particular interest group or your sport. Don't go there, of course, and change colors like a chameleon, taking on the color of your surroundings. You may be their only hope of seeing the Jesus-difference - unless you compromise it away. But they can't see the light if you abandon them for a corner that's already nice and bright.

Like Mr. Rogers, do something to redeem the darkness in your personal universe. You are the light of their world, according to your Savior. They need you. Don't blame the darkness for being dark - it's dark because there's no light shining there. Make up your mind that, in Jesus' name and with His power, you are going to change your environment instead of your environment changing you. You can hang out with believers forever in heaven, but you have just a few short years to help others be in heaven with you. And remember, a small light can illuminate a big, dark room. It doesn't take much light to totally transform a dark place. So, light your world!