There was a blackout one night. When the lights went out, I drowsily fumbled my way across the bed to the bed stand where we keep the flashlights for nights like this... I turned on four of them.  Yes, I like flashlights, and that’s a story for another day.

I was turning to leave with the largest and brightest flashlight in my hand when I heard a voice, "Now, hold it right there."

"Who said that?"

"I did." The voice was near my hand.

"Who are you? What are you?"

"I'm a flashlight." I lifted up the flashlight to take a closer look. There was a tiny face in the handle. I know...creepy, huh...it’s just a parable.

"Don't take me out of here!"

"What?"

"I said, don’t take me out of this room."

"What do you mean? I have to take you out. You're a flashlight. That’s your job.  That’s why I purchased you.  Your job is to give light. It's dark out there right now and your light is really needed."

"But you can't take me out. I'm not ready yet," the flashlight explained with pleading eyes. "I need more preparation before I can lead anyone out of the dark."

I couldn't believe my ears. "More preparation, are you kidding me?"

"Yeah, I've decided I need to research this job of light-giving so I won't go out and make a bunch of mistakes. I don’t want to look bad and besides you'd be surprised how ineffective the beam of an untrained flashlight can be...."

"All right then," I said. "You're not the only flashlight on the stand...I'll put you back and take another!"

But right then I heard other voices, "We aren't going either!"

I turned to the other flashlights, "C’mon man!  You are flashlights and your job is to light dark places!"

"Well, that may be what you think," said one. "You may think we should go, but you don’t understand just how busy I am.  Right now, guess what I’m doing...I'm meditating on the importance of light. It's really enlightening, so to speak"...

"And you other two," I asked, "are you going to stay too?"

A short, fat, purple flashlight with plump cheeks spoke up. "I'm waiting to get my life together. I'm not experienced enough yet to go out and light up the dark."

The last flashlight had a female voice, very pleasant to the ear. "I'd like to help," she explained, "but lighting the darkness is not my gift... y’know...I'm a singer. I sing to other flashlights to encourage them to burn more brightly. "She began a rendition of "This Little Light of Mine" The other three joined in, filling the room with singing...while everyone who needed their light was remaining in the dark.  “C’mon do your job...shine!”

Take a step back and consider the absurdity of it all. Four perfectly good flashlights singing to each other about light but refusing to come out and give the light that was needed.

I’m sure you get the gist; you understand the parable of the flashlights. So, here is a question for you.  When was the last time you had a conversation with someone about the Lord Jesus Christ, the Light of the world? This world is certainly full of darkness, with many people stumbling around, as lost as they can be, trying to find their way in the dark. They don’t know where they’ve been, they don’t know where they are, they’re not even sure where they’re heading, and where they’re heading is everlasting darkness. If we Love God...and I know you do...the measure of our love of Him is our obedience to Him.  And if you Love People...and I know you do...the measure of our love for people can be measured by the risks we take to light the way to Jesus.  The people we know, who right now are living in the dark, really need, most of all, more than anything else in their life, the saving life and light of Jesus Christ.  You can be a guiding light for them, by the way you live and by the conversations you have.  Show them the way to the only one who can save them and give them life for an eternity, so that they will never have to be in the dark again, for “Jesus is the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father but through Him”. (John 14:6)

Probably time for those of us who are saved to stop with the excuses and realize the opportunities, the divine appointments, the Lord sets up for us to share with others what Jesus has done for us and what He will do for them. C’mon man...let’s do what we were saved to do.

Really, what good is a flashlight that won’t light the way.  And what good is a........who won’t............?  You can fill in the blanks.

In fact, it’s good for everyone we interact with, those that we know to understand that all we have, the blessings, the guidance, the salvation, the light...which shines the brightest during the darkest days, all comes from Him.

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candle stick and it gives the light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16

 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16 (ESV)

Need to brush up on the gospel and how to present it in a meaningful way...just go to our website, fbcwentzville.com and hit the tab that says “about us”, and in that tab you will find the “gospel” in a video presentation.  Take it...and use it...because you want to...not because you have to.  That’s what Christians do.

...do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)

 And then there’s... instant messaging.  I think back to one of the first times, if not the first time, that I really used “instant messaging” to my advantage in our family life, to help me and my wife deal with a rather overwhelming “storm” of life that had gathered on the horizon but was now trying to “blow” us away.

I was in Bible school in Dallas, working a couple of jobs.  It was about the middle of December, one of my favorite times of the year.  I had a wonderful two year old daughter, was married to the girl of my dreams, and she was pregnant with our second child, who would be born in January, less than a month away.  Life was busy and tough but life was really good.

Our oldest daughter Angela had taken ill.  She had a fever, which you know as a parent or grandparent or parent to be, is not all that unusual with children.  There are a lot of germs out there and it’s only a matter of time before some health issue arises that you have to deal with.  You just do the regular “stuff”.  Proper medicine, proper hydration, proper rest, and before you know it...she would be back on her feet.

Only this time...that didn’t happen.  Little Angela kept getting sicker and weaker...and finally we were instructed to take her to the hospital.  I remember lifting her into my arms and she was just as limp as a rag and unresponsive...I felt helpless and my mind was beginning to wander to places I didn’t want it to go.  Is she okay?  What’s going to happen?  How bad is it? And then...will she recover?

After several days of testing, the diagnosis was presented...she had spinal meningitis and they couldn’t guarantee any particular outcome at the moment.  I can’t speak for Sherri, but I was stunned and taken back...I just didn’t expect to hear those words.  They couldn’t be sure what might happen?  It was more serious than I had ever anticipated.

That’s where the “instant messaging” came in...Sherri and I held hands and “instant messaged” the Lord...that’s what prayer is...a continuous...throughout the day...conversation with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  He is available in a moment...instantly...at the time when we needed Him the most. We poured out our thoughts and request to Him...and yielded ourselves to His will.  We had discovered through previous “instant messaging” and reading His written message, the Bible, “that He would work all things together for good for those that love Him,” Romans 8:28.  We really believed that with all of our heart and that brought to our lives a “peace that surpasses understanding”.

We spent the next 10 days in the hospital...through the Christmas season...and Angela recovered.  We thankfully took her home with little physical consequence realized in her life.  We “instant messaged” our thanks and gratitude to the Lord and continued to tell all who would listen that God is good...all the time.

I’ve often thought back to those days as well as others, with the realization of what a wonderful invitation and gift He offers to us to come to Him and receive rest...and how often I have accessed that gift through prayer...in an instant message...where we walk with Him and talk with Him along life’s journey.  What a blessing.  What a help in time of need.

Like a lot of you, I instant message or text some of my friends all the time.  It’s not just during the time of crisis but when “whatever” or “anything” is happening.  It keeps the relationship vibrant and growing.  In fact, I have quite a few people that if I needed something...I feel like I could instant message them anytime and they would help if they could.

I’ve done the same thing with the Lord.  I instant message Him all the time...I pray, talk with Him...not just in the time of crisis...but because He is my friend and my Lord.  And when there are times, which there are, when no one else can help in any way...like with Angela...or with providing a way to go to heaven...I turn to the One, the only One... who can meet the need of my heart and my life.

Give it a try.  Start “instant messaging” the Lord today.  It doesn’t have to be a time of crisis...just let the relationship grow and deepen...and know that if a “storm” comes into your life...He is just an “instant” away and He will listen and He will answer.

Who doesn’t need a little “peace” in their life?  Who doesn’t need a little “security” in their life? Who doesn’t need a refuge?  Who doesn’t need forgiveness of their sin and salvation?  Who is without need of help?  That would be no one, and all that you need can be found through your relationship to Jesus...so why not “instant message” Him all throughout the day and treasure the relationship you have with Him. It really doesn’t take any time at all...just an instant.