We had been waiting all day for the show to begin. I kept expecting it to start but it wasn’t dark enough yet. Finally the sun had completely set, and one by one, fireworks exploded in the air. I watched as the fireworks lit up the darkness for three seconds before the sparks blended into the night sky. I was experiencing Kentucky’s famous Thunder Over Louisville fireworks show for the first time and it lived up to all the hype surrounding it.
Fireworks are meant to light up the sky, coloring the darkness with vibrant colors and shapes. The darker it is outside, the brighter the fireworks appear. Fireworks can’t be dull and colorless; otherwise they are considered defective and must be thrown out. After all, what’s the point of shooting off fireworks that you can’t see?
In the same way, God charges His church to be light in the midst of darkness. Matthew 5:14-16 says, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deed and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Just like a firework is useless without its light, so are Christians useless if they don’t share God’s love with others. This world is filled with darkness, there’s no doubt about it, but that just means God’s light can shine all the brighter in the midst of the darkness. This primarily happens through God’s people, His church. What an honor it is to be used by Him!
