The Poetic Corner: Another Light

Another Light

the world may not be what we want

but it’s okay, we all feel that way

at least once a day

our lives may not be what we planned

but it’s alright, we’ve still got time

to work on this, our lack of faith

 

the sun may be behind the clouds

but if we try, our eyes can see

the silver lining just beyond

and if the darkness spreads abroad ’til we can’t walk

using our sight

we’ll run and let our guide be another light

oh, there’s another light

 

oh, there’s another light

when the doors are shut right in your face

you’re out of place and suddenly it’s night

reach for the ember in the corner of your mind

make it a fire, let the Savior’s warmth keep you alive

oh, another light

He’s a light that never fades

nothing else can take His place

 

you wonder how you’ll make it through another week

of uncertainty

but you always do

you can’t explain the emptiness inside your soul

and how it fills

until it’s full

God’s in control more than we know

 

we may not have everything

but what we have is what we need

not a light of the world

there’s another light

He’s all we need

and that’s fine with me
Let’s face it, more often than not, life is not how we want it to be, and it usually doesn’t go as planned. Whether in our own lives, the lives of our family and friends, or the lives of those around the world, the world seems to be fighting against us. What guidance does the world offer? Nothing that results in much good. Most of the time, when we follow theworld’s guidance, we end up in a darker situation than where we started.

So what do we do when we can’t see a light at the end of the tunnel? Thankfully, there’s another light. This light is Jesus Christ. His light is eternal and never fades. His light can penetrate any darkness. It leads us into His presence, whereas the “wisdom” of the world only leads us into the chains of Hell.

We read in the first epistle of John, chapter 1 verses 15 through 17,

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

The wisdom of the world will pass with time, and everything and everyone that is allied with it will pass as well. If we expect to get through this life, we need to cling to the only Light that can brighten any path.

In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. (John 1:5-6)

Only in Christ we have life and light. The world cannot offer such things to us because Jesus Christ is truly all we need. If we rely on His light to guide us, everything will be taken care of. We may not have everything the world has to offer. We may not have a nice car, or a big house, or a large bank account, but it’s alright. These things will pass anyway. What matters is that we hold on to Jesus Christ. He is another light. Through Him we can have all we’ll ever need in life.

The Glass Table Analogy II: Broken Pieces

The Apostles and the Seventy are out spreading the teachings of the Master, Jesus Christ. The glass table can still stand with its remaining three legs: apostles/prophets, priesthood authority, and revelation. Unfortunately, things do not go well for the Christians. Just like the prophets of old, the people reject Christ’s disciples. Through persecution and eventually murder, the Apostles and other disciples are eleminated. Jesus Christ knew this would happen, and He warned His disciples,

Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations formy name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. (Matthew 24:9-10)

With the disciples gone, however, the priesthood authority eventually diminished. No one was left to transfer the authority by the laying on of hands. The world fell into a Great Apostasy, a time of spiritual darkness. To use a more secular term, the world entered the Dark Ages.

The Apostle Paul could see this time clearly,

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

The shattering of the glass table left broken pieces. In their ignorance and wickedness, people took those pieces and began to put their own ideas around them, forming philosophies and theologies that were missing important parts of Christ’s doctrine. Without revelation from prophets and apostles, there was no one to guide them. The Church of Jesus Christ was no longer on the earth. Only fragments of truth existed among the man-made religions.

This time on the earth had actually been prophecied of long ago.

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the wordsof the Lord: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it. (Amos 8:11-12)

The word of the Lord would not be found because His church and His doctrine in its fullness would not be on the earth. The glass table was broken. No man could hope to repair it. Even if one could somehow find all the pieces and bring them together, the glass would still be shattered. No power on earth could restore Jesus Christ’s church. It would take the Savior Himself to bring His gospel back in its fullness. Only He could restore the glass table to its original form.

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 16:18-19)

By the power of the Holy Ghost, Peter knew Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God, AKA Revelation. Hence, upon this rock, meaning revelation, would Christ build His church, giving Peter the keys of the kindgom, AKA priesthood authority. And the gates of Hell have not prevailed against it, for The Church of Jesus Christ has been restored in these latter days. This is where a young farmboy named Joseph Smith comes into play…

Light in a Darkened World

i see so much corruption

and it’s hard to ignore

living on greed and possessions

is this what we’re dying for?

so choose this day who you will serve

to be the light in a darkened world

A Light in a Darkened World ~ Killswitch Engage

We live in a day and age when darkness is creeping all around us. Satan’s plagues can be seen wherever we go: drugs, alcohol, greed, selfishness, pornography and other forms of immorality, government corruption, war, etc. The list can go on and on. Some of us might ask, “Where is the light?” What is it? How can we find it?

What is the light?

John 8:12 – Then spake Jesus again unto them saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the Light! It is by Him that we can be guided through the dark paths of life. Through the direction of our Heavenly Father, Christ created the world and everything in it, including us. Being an artist, I put myself into each of my drawings. When you look at the ink, you can see a little bit of who I am. The same goes for us and the world. By viewing the beauty of the Earth and ourselves, we can see Christ’s light and who He is.

Matthew 5:14-16

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Christ’s light is in each of us. We are His creations and therefore have the potential to be the best examples of His light, His goodness, and His love. Christ encourages us to let our light so shine and show others Heavenly Father’s love, Christ’s love, and our own love through our good works. By doing so we can be a light to those that may be lost in this darkened world.

Christ is the Light, and the Light is within us. We can find it in ourselves and in others, and help others to find it by letting it shine  before men. We must choose to do this, however. It will only shine forth when we are striving to emulate Christ’s example and obey God’s commandments.

Joshua 24:15

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

May we all choose this day to serve the Lord and be a light unto others, that through us they may see Christ’s love shine forth. I testify that Christ is the Light and Life of this world. I know that He loves each of us and wants us all to be a shining light.

Be a light in a darkened world.