In 1980, a horror film called The Shining was produced and offered to audiences across the world. It had to do with ghosts or spirits who were disturbing mortals that were occupying a hotel. The Shining was the supposed manifestation of occult power in the film, and of course, all of it was the fanciful invention of writers and producers.
Yet, a real true shining is described in God’s Word. God promised to shine on man and in turn demanded a shining from man. In Isaiah God issued His promise for that shining and called on His people to shine His light to others.
“The Redeemer will come to Zion, and to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,” says the Lord. “As for me,” says the Lord, “this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and my words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendant’s descendants,” says the Lord, “from this time and forevermore.” Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. (Isaiah59:20-60:3)
God, the Redeemer, promised to come and make a covenant with those who turned from transgressions. That coming was the light of His salvation and He promised to “arise” over those who received it (60:2). This is parallel to Paul’s writing in 2 Corinthians 4:6, “For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” In short, that was the light of the Gospel.
Since God gave the light, He then called upon the recipients to get up and shine (60:1). Who are the “shiners” that are “shining”?
- Those who are spiritually wise. “Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament” (Daniel 12:3a).
- Those who turn others to righteousness. “And those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever” (Daniel 12:3b).
- Those who are turned to righteousness. “Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father” (Matthew 13:43).
- Those who live justly. “But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day” (Proverbs 4:18).
- Those who do the good works of God. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
- Those who live the serene life. “…you will be God’s children without fault. But you are living with crooked and mean people all around you, among whom you shine like stars in the dark world. You offer the teaching that gives life” (Philippians 2:15-16 New Century Version).
“Therefore He says, ‘Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light’” (Ephesians 5:14). He gives us light (His shining) that we may give to others “the light of His glory.” We should take to heart the words of the Psalmist, “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him” (Psalm 126:5-6).
My brother, Bob McKee, wrote a song titled “You Will Shine as the Stars” that has the theme of going to shine the light of the Gospel to others. The chorus of that song is: “Go forth sowing the seed, even weeping; God will grant you a harvest of souls by and by; and forever when this life is over, you will shine as the stars in the sky.” His people shine as bright stars when they go forth taking His Gospel to others and accompany it with a life that shines in godly living.
