I saw a quote on social media that read “you can’t dim someone who learned to shine in the dark.” While at first glance the quote seems beautiful, reading it didn’t sit right with me. After reflecting on what I disliked about the quote, I made my own modification:

You can’t dim someone whose source of light isn’t effected by the darkness.

This world is dark. If you think of the sickness, starvation, corruption, and violence in this world you cannot recognize it as anything other than dark. Depression and anxiety both feed on that darkness. This world is full of undeniable wickedness.

But when your light isn’t from this world you still shine.

There is a reason light in darkness is so often used as a picture in the Bible. It is powerful to consider the impact even one small flame has over the pitch black. We are supposed to look like that within this world.

When your source of light is friendship, that can be put out.

When your source of light is success, that can be put out.

When your source of light is your family, that can be put out.

When your source of light is physical goals, that can be put out.

When your source of light is hobbies, that can be put out.

When your source of light is fun, that can be put out.

When your source of light is justice, that can be put out.

When your source of light is kindness, that can be put out.

All sources of light other than relationship with God can and will be eradicated. Don’t fool yourself - you aren’t capable of creating your own light and maintaining that. The light we generate in this world is a byproduct of relationship with Christ. The light that is generated by non-Christians is due to our intentional design in the image of God…but without ongoing relationship with God all those lights will inevitably disappear. If you want a light that will not be extinguished you can only find that in relationship with Christ - and let me say that again relationship not religion.

Let me say another hot take: not all “Christians” shine brightly because not all “Christians” are actively living in a personal connection to God. I can point direct fingers at past versions of myself where that was certainly the case. I now try to check-in with myself in the following areas to better hold myself accountable:

What goes through my mind when I think it’s time to read the Bible?

How regularly am I reading my Bible?

Do I see any fruit in my life?

Do the things I am doing for the Lord feel like chores or am I craving doing more?

I find that my answers to those questions look very different in the seasons where I am farther from Christ versus the ones where I am walking hand-in-hand with Him. Some of the same external behaviors can be done from two very different heart attitudes.

If you want a light that can’t be extinguished you can’t create it yourself.