Arise, Shine – September 26, 1999
Many adults remember a familiar summons from childhood days—a wake-up call that urged us to “rise and shine!” Arising itself was often enough of a challenge for a sleepy boy or girl, but the possibility of “shining” seemed so unlikely as to be a bit of parental irony. When we understand the origin of the admonition to “arise and shine,” we realize that it is neither ironic nor impossible.
It was the prophet Isaiah in the Old Testament who encouraged us to “arise, shine.”1 The scripture continued by saying, “For thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee . . . , and his glory shall be seen upon thee.”2 Thus, we are not expected to be brilliant of ourselves but, instead, to reflect the boundless light of the Almighty. Just as the moon’s light is borrowed, so our glory is lent to us by God.
How, then, can we respond to this invitation to shine? First, we can become receptive to the light of heaven, and, even more, we can actively seek that light by supplication and prayer. No one knows who will need the light during the day ahead. And so, it seems wise to ask every day for the blessing to give light and be an instrument of divine glory.
Second, when we receive the light, we have a sacred trust to act upon it. Sometimes we will need to hold the torch high in our own backyards, sometimes to carry it to someone across town, and on occasion to travel far to comfort those in darkness. But if we have asked for heavenly light, and received it, then we have an obligation to arise and shine.
Finally, we need always remember that it is God’s glory that is seen upon us. The apostle Paul explained: “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts.”3 The light is the light of heaven, and it may shine as brightly in an unlettered schoolboy or a poor fisherman as in a scholar or prince. Indeed, many who have received great fame and fortune because of musical talent, inventive genius, or athletic prowess are quick to acknowledge that their gifts come from God and not from themselves. The light they bring to the world shines more purely because, in their humility, they give the glory to God, the giver of all good gifts.
Program #3658
1. Isaiah 60:1.
2. Isaiah 60:1,2.
3. 2 Corinthians 4:6.