“A Candle in the Window!”
1 Thessalonians 5:5 For you all are sons of the light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of the darkness.
It was a blistery, blowing snow storm; temperatures dropping into the single digits. There was nothing visibly that could be seen because of the blinding white cloud of frosty flakes that seem to be bigger than the sky itself. “How in the world was I ever going to find the path back to my house?” It wasn’t even snowing when I headed out into the woods. By now it was beginning to get dusk and I was extremely fearful of being lost in these woods all alone and in the dark. There were no twinkling lights on our house because we couldn’t afford that. I thought it would be special to get a tree and decorate it by the time my mom got home from her second job at the diner. My dad died a couple of years ago and since then my mom and me have had a real hard time making it. Since it’s just the two of us, we have worked hard to keep the farm going even though we have lost most of it. I have tried to be the man of the house but at 12 there is still much I don’t know. I do know that my mom is a wonderful woman that loves me and God. She prays everyday and has always told me to have faith and God would see us through.
My mom works so hard, I just wanted to do something special for her. Guess I’m not too smart, being out here all alone. What am I going to do? Well, I do have my faith, I do know that God is always present and all I have to do is call out to Him and He’ll hear me. I am so cold, I can hardly think, but something has to happen quickly or I could die out here. “Dear God, it’s me Charlie, I need your help, and I need to find my way home. Could you please help me to see the way back? I would really appreciate it if you could do this for me. My mom sure would be happy that you helped me back home. Thanks a lot, sir. And, God, I really do love you a lot, just like my mom, Amen.” I just stood there in the blinding snow, hanging on to my little tree. Do I even have enough strength to pull this thing home? Well I did come out here for it. Suddenly, I begin to see a little tiny flickering light. I’m not sure where it’s coming from; it seemed to come out of nowhere. I just started to move toward it, the closer I got to it, it was getting brighter and brighter. I began to feel strength and hope that yes, someone there could help me. I was going to make it after all. Finally I could see and much to my surprise, it was my own house. But, how could that be, I didn’t even know that I was that close to my home. It seemed I was so far away. And, my mom…is she home from work already? When I reached the front porch, that light was a flickering candle in the window. Oh yes, my mom put it there for me? In my excitement I dropped the tree and ran into the house to tell my mom what had happened. Inside my house was a single flickering candle burning in the front window but mom wasn’t home. I couldn’t understand, where did this candle come from? How did this candle suddenly appear in our window when no one else was here to light it?
I looked around, but the house was still and quiet. I feel on my knees and thanked God for getting me back home safely. Suddenly I felt what seemed to be arms wrapping around me and then a low whisper in my right ear said, “Child you are safe, just remember I am always the light to help you find your way!” I realized that God had put that candle in my window and that He had guided me safely home. I will always be found if I follow the light!
What Charlie might not have understood initially, was that the light was the Holy Spirit. When we are lost God sends His spirit to help guide us safely home and just like Charlie you are not as far away as you may think!
Where did this story of Charlie and the candle come from you might ask? I just sat down at this computer to do this week’s devotional and suddenly this little story appeared from my spirit. I really feel like someone needs this story fiction or not because it presents a message to us all. I hope that it will prove to remind you that God loves you through every single struggle you find yourself in. Just like Charlie you may not have much this Christmas, but you have your life; you have God. Christmas is not about buying gifts, decorations or even all the goodies you’ll devour. But it is about our Savior’s love for the sinner and the Christian that needs to re-evaluate his priorities.
If you are far away from God’s saving Grace, it’s not too late to come to Him. There is a light burning brightly for you, it is His presence and it offers the warmth of His love. Jesus loves you more than you could ever really know. If you give Him a chance, He’ll prove just how much He loves you. Actually when He died on the cross that action was an extraordinary way of showing us just how much God loves us all. I pray that you will focus on the gift and if you are in a blinding battle, just follow the light of God’s direction; He’ll always get you home safely!
Merry Christmas!
Dr. Shelia Isom
High Voltage Devotional
Experiencing Revival
For more from Dr. Sheila Isom and Experiencing Revival, please visit www.drsisom.org
