Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Dark Clouds and Fiery Lights That Guide Us


I have been reading through the book of Exodus lately.  Today when I got to chapter 13, I just kind of was stuck on the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire that guided the Israelites.  I was not confused; I just began to think about how true that is even for us today.  I was not trying to take away for the actual miracle that God performed.  I have no doubt that God used actual pillars of clouds and fire.  

I had an epiphany with these pillars.  I do not think anyone can deny that we all have our ups and downs in life.  Ups being our good times and downs being our bad.  I got to thinking; God has given me pillars to guide me in my life and yours as well.  There not the same pillars as what the Israelites had, but nonetheless they are pillars to guide us.

So, what are these dark pillars?  When life is going good, the dark pillars of my life keep me from turning back to my mistakes.  They guide me down the path of righteousness and holiness.  This dark cloudy pillar is called conviction.  Conviction has come from knowledge and experience.  Knowledge because I have learned from God's word what sin looks like and the consequences of sin.  Experience, well I have made my mistakes and experienced the negative consequences first hand.  Either way, these dark clouds guide me and set boundaries for me so that I can continue walking in the light. 

How about those pillars of light?  When life is going bad, it is the pillars of light that guide me back out of the darkness.  Just like the dark pillars, they guide me to the path of righteousness and holiness.  Again, it is called conviction either by knowledge or experience.  In my Christian walk, God has showed me what righteousness and holiness look like.  He has told me, guided me by His spirit, and He has even allowed me to experience it.  It is these pillars of light that God directs me out of the darkness and back into His light. 

If your life is in Christ, listen to your heart.  God has blessed you with the Holy Spirit.  This very same spirit guides you with these pillars of darkness and light.  When you in the light and on that spiritual high, remember the darkness and how you felt.  Do not forget the consequences you have learned and let them convict you to stay in the light.  When you are in the darkness and that spiritual low, remember the light.  Do not forget the blessings that God bestowed upon you.  Focus on the light and let it guide you back to the path of holiness and righteousness.    




Exodus 13:21 
By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.

May my life be the proof and evidence of His love!

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