After very challenging legislative sessions like the one we just experienced here in Maine, I’m often asked, “Why bother advocating for the sanctity of human life and other biblical truths in Augusta when it seems there is little to no chance of prevailing?”
The Word of God employs everyday metaphors that we might comprehend essential eternal truths. Certainly one of the most common and well-known of these metaphors is light. Jesus proclaimed himself as the light of the world in John 8, and then in Matthew 5, He told us we are the light of the world.
There would be little controversy in surmising the consistent meaning of this Biblical symbol of light is truth. If we consider the function of light in our daily lives, we grasp important aspects of divine light or divine truth.
The book of Proverbs tells us God’s Word is a lamp and a light guiding us and keeping us from harmful and dangerous missteps. Certainly light dispels darkness and reveals the paths to follow or to avoid.
Light also can serve as a beacon of hope to the distressed, weary, and lost traveler whether it be a sailor seeing the beam of a lighthouse or someone trekking over the land pursuing the glow of a city on a hill, light can bring us home even from great distances.
The utility of light must never eclipse the purpose of light, especially as it relates to the origin or giver of light. It’s obviously beneficial to avoid danger and harm along life’s paths, and anyone who has experienced being lost or disoriented can appreciate the hope and encouragement of a guiding light. But those benefits are focused on the function of light. When we try to glean eternal truths from these metaphors, we must consider the divine purpose of light.
In Acts 13, the Apostle Paul recounted he was made light so that he might bring salvation to the ends of the earth. The revelation of God’s truth (light) is proof of His love for us and His desire to reconcile us to Himself.
In proclaiming the pro-life message, we are declaring that every human being bears the image of our Creator, and therefore is of inestimable worth to Him (regardless of whether the world values them or not).
God’s truth about life allows the enlightened to avoid the dangers and harms that accompany the culture of death. This truth also is a beacon to so many who need a light of hope and encouragement. While the cause of saving babies is incredibly noble, it is not the ultimate purpose of our cause. Neither is the purpose of our cause to be a blinding light of judgment and condemnation.
We stand in public prayer not only to make intercession but to let our light shine. As our Lord said in Matthew 5, Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your father which is in heaven.
Our loving heavenly Father is counting on us to proclaim His truth in order that Christ would be lifted up and all men be drawn on to Him. In so doing, the function of light fulfills its divine purpose. What a privilege to be bearers of His light!
Carroll Conley, Jr., Executive Director of the Christian Civic League of Maine. and an 11th generation Mainer. He has a long history in education. During his tenure as Headmaster of Bangor Christian Schools, Carroll served as the President of the Northeast Principal’s Association and was on the Executive Committee of the Maine Principal’s Association. Carroll and his wife Terri, married since 1980, have two married sons, and five grandchildren.
