A Lamp Shining in a Dark Place

I will never forget when my son-in-law decided to take cell phones away. He was helping lead an Oceans Kingdom Encounter trip for a group of students from the high school where he works.  We try to limit phone use on the trips, but the pull to stay connected and watch a favorite feed is often too great of a temptation.

I give kudos for the courage it took for my son-in-law to make this call. You could see the anguish in some of the faces of the students as they reluctantly handed over their phones as if their very life depended on it. But, by the end of their trip to South Africa it was those same students who were in tears not wanting to leave because of what the Holy Spirit was doing in their hearts.

Last week I shared about the book “The Anxious Generation,” and how studies reveal that smart phone usage has led to an epidemic of addictions, loneliness, despair, and mental health concerns. Prayer was one of the steps suggested to break the bondage of anxiety. Right along with the power of prayer is spending time listening to the voice of the Father, through His Word.

The Apostle Peter, calls the Word “a lamp shining in a dark place,” 2 Peter 1:19. One of the enemy’s goals is to keep us so distracted by other voices in our minds that we miss the greatest voice of all, and that is the Father’s voice. When you and I try to live off the voices of others and our culture it often leads to a slippery slope into dark and hopeless places.

Our whole goal in the Kingdom Encounter experience is for teams to hear the voice of the Father during our time together. Knowing that if young people can learn to hear the Father’s voice, it will help break the stronghold of the lies of the satan, who desires for God’s children to live and dwell in darkness.

I challenge you to pick up your Bible and read 2 Peter 1 and notice how Peter masterfully demonstrates the importance of being in the Word of God and daily encountering His voice by means of the Holy Spirit. This Word will be “a lamp onto your feet and a light unto your path.”

Peter illustrates this by sharing the experience he, James and John had on the Mount of Transfiguration. They were eyewitnesses to the majesty of Christ glowing with the glory of God in His being.  They heard the Father’s voice shouting out:

“This is My beloved Son with whom I am well pleased!” (vs. 17)

These words of love from the Father are the summary of all Scripture. I believe all of the Bible is pointing to what these words reveal. Words hat the Father wants His beloved children to hear.  Jesus, the True Word from Heaven, came to earth as the Father’s beloved Son, to open our hearts through His life, death, and resurrection, so we could be transformed by the Father’s voice of love.

I recall those students, who were not happy handing over their phones, being transformed by their encounter with the voice of the Heavenly Father. His life changing words ,  “you are My beloved child!”  caused their faces to beam with His heavenly light.

The chains gripping this anxious generation can be broken by prayer and daily listening for the Father’s voice in His Word given to us through Christ and the Spirit. Hear His voice lovingly reminding us that we belong to a loving Father and are His beloved children. This Lamp is what we need our lives to depend on. This Lamp can shatter the darkness and give us hope.