Chaplains Corner

Light, Salt and the Pleasure of God

by Chaplain Brent Richards

“And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout,

waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And the Holy Spirit had revealed

to him that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. So he came by the Spirit

into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the law,

he took Him up into his arms and blessed God and said,

“Lord, now let Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word, for my eyes have

seen your salvation, which You have prepared before the face of all people: a light to lighten

the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.""

Luke.2:25-32

Hello, brethren in our Lord and Messiah, Jesus the Christ! I trust this finds you in the same peace that our brother Simeon had (and still hasJ!). After witnessing (and testifying of) the Lord’s Christ, Simeon departed this life in peace. What a way to go! All because he had seen the One who has lit us Gentiles up! And many Jews, too, have come to know and trust Jesus as the Messiah. “There was a (Jewish) man sent from God, whose name was John. (The whole purpose for John the Baptist was that,) This man came for a witness… of the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world (John 1:6-9).” That’s a neat summary of Jesus: the true Light who gives light. Even in the midst of great darkness, He gives Light.

What are we supposed to do with this Light? Well, shine it, of course, even as Simeon did. We are to take him in our arms, so to speak, and lift Him up, giving glory to God for this gift. “You are the light of the word. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but put it on a lampstand, and it gives light to all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in heaven (Mt.5:14-16).” Think of Jesus as the light (before electricity J), and our lives as wicks set afire by Him, and our bodies as lamps kept ablaze by the inward oil of the Holy Spirit (1Cor.3:16).