No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a washtub or shoves it under the bed. No, you set it up on a lamp stand so those who enter the room can see their way. We’re not keeping secrets; we’re telling them. We’re not hiding things; we’re bringing everything out into the open. (Luke 8:16, 17 The Message)
Fear Not… Then No Secrets
As a Boy Scout Honor Guard at Fort Mackinac, I packed a lot of delightful treats. My duffle bag was filled with home made cookies, venison jerky, tasty potato chips, and succulent fruit. And less healthy more exciting things like hard candy, candy bars, and fudge. I divvied it out according to my schedule… having decided exactly what treats to eat after lights out.
I also packed comic books to read, magic tricks to practice, and small fossils to analyze. Not knowing most of the other Scouts, I prepared to fill all of my free time with personal fun activities.
On the last day, I made a friend. My age, this guy liked all the same things I did. We discovered our connection as I was cleaning up the remains of my stash. He saw some of my wrappers and blinked his eyes. Like mine, these were some of his favorite foods, hobbies, and time-wasters.
We were both a little sad… but I was mostly disappointed in myself. I had wealth, but instead of spreading good things, I kept them to myself. I had joy-producers, but instead of spreading that joy, I kept it to myself. I had relationship-builders, but I kept them as my own.
This is what James is talking about, regarding our best treasure. We were given the light of our salvation so that others can find illumination. We were given eternal life so that others can leave death’s grip. We were given the Way so that others can become unlost.
It is interesting, and hopeful, that James doesn’t command us to show our lights. He nearly assumes we just are. Just like no one, he says, hides a candle at night, we do not hide our heavenly gifts.
Is he right?
Many years ago, as a youth group silly activity, we staged a fake trial in which we had to provide evidence from our lives that we were Christ’s people. We found we had a lot of lights hidden under beds.
Why are we light-hiders? Maybe we tire of negative social reaction. Maybe we are nervous about preachy conversations. Maybe we do not like to make waves. Or maybe, underlying all of these, we have forgotten how wonderful the light has been for us, in the dark.
Fear not, then no secrets.