By Lunminthang Haokip
Fear of A Girl: A boy and a girl had some work to do in the basement of the latter’s house. As they stepped down the staircase, the light went off suddenly. The girl felt uncomfortable and screamed, “My God, there is darkness all around. I feel terribly scared”. Trying to be chivalrous, the boy immediately retorted, “You don’t have to feel scared baby. Why are you feeling scared? I am here”. The girl meekly replied, “That is why!”.
The Meeting Order: This Author began his message with the above illustration. A small meeting was arranged by the office of the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Moreh, Manipur on the 25th September, 2011 at the premises of HTC (Hill Tribal Council), Moreh. In the hurriedly stitched up mini-bash, more than a hundred LED-based Solar Lanterns and Reading Lamps were distributed to 2009 Class X-passed students of Moreh town. Pu Lhukhosei Zou, Hon’ble Chairman, Chandel Autonomous District Council was the Chief Guest and Pu JN Baite, MDC, was the Guest of honour. The event was moderated by Pu Paoneo Francis Baite, Secretary, Education, HTC while the Vice President of HTC, Pu Holkhojam Mate gave the welcome address prior to a Gospel song item from Miss Hoineichong Touthang of Laitui village, Saikul Sub-Division.
The Message Went On: The anecdote narrated in the first para reminds us of the dominance of a venue by fear once darkness comes in. Darkness gels well with evil. But light exposes evil. When a person wants to do wicked things, light is shunned and the intended bad deeds are realised in the dark. Once the light goes off in the kitchen, cockroaches and other insects have a field day. When light is put on, they run away from the scene. Man also has similar nature. He knows what is good but does not have the inner strength to do so. The good appears less appealing. More often than not, he ends up doing the wrong he otherwise hates to do, unseen. It is because darkness rules the thoughts and disables him to do the good he actually desires. John 3:19 says, “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil”.
Light Was Good: “The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters (Genesis 1:2)”. We can imagine the state of affairs before to the creation of light on earth. Nothing would have been visible. How could an object be identified or its location known in the absence of light? It would be awful if the first man and woman were breathed to life in such a situation of darkness. So God said, “Let there be light: and there was light (Gen. 1:3). What a mighty power? Nothing or no one else could have achieved such an instant incredible feat. The Creator Himself liked what He did. Genesis 1:4 says, “And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from darkness”.
Light Shows The Way: When we grope in the dark, we stumble and get hurt. We are denied the accurate correspondence of thought and action. Because we cannot see, we have to act on instinctive assumption of which we are not certain about. Marrying in haste and repenting in leisure is a classic example. The only alternative to holy marriage is folly marriage. Jesus said in John 12:35, “Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth”. Outside the will of God which can be revealed by the guidance of the Word of God, even the wisest guy in the universe “knows not where he goes”. The changing traffic lights signal when to stop, get set or go. The light of the Scripture does the same to mortals in the foggy pitfall-ridden alleys of life. The promises of God from the Bible saw me through several odd administrative crises.
What Is True Light?: Diwali may be touted as the festival of light. But the cracker-happy candle-consuming annual event provides nothing to inspire or enlighten the soul. John wrote in his Gospel in Chapter 1 verse 9, “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world “. Who else can say with conviction, “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness (John 12:46)”? The righteous counsel of Jesus illuminated many lives during His 3 and a half year sojourn on this sin-endangered world of ours. The blind Bartimaeus received his sight (Mark 10:52), the shady Samaritan woman became a purist witness (John 4:39), the dying thief received last-minute relief of salvation (Luke 23:43), Paul the persecutor of Christians turned the prime mover of divine superlatives and so on. If Christ is not the true Light, who is?
Sources of Energy God-Given: Conventional sources of energy will get exhausted one day. Alternative non-conventional sources of energy were gifted from above in the form of solar power, wind, biomass and hydro-power. Where do these elements come from? “For the Lord God is a sun and shield (Psalm 84;11)”. Bundhs, blockades and counter-blockades are presently causing scarcity of fuel items in our blessed land. We may feel elated that we have managed to ventilate our grievances in a violent way and got our voices heard through noises. It will be in the fitness of things to recall the recent calamities. Romans 1:18 warns us, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness”. A brief shake-up of the earth for seconds brought about massive destruction. What if the Almighty calls a counter-blockade on humankind? Even if air alone is withdrawn, this global village will be reduced to a graveyard of human-been.
Appeal for verdict: On the occasion of distribution Solar lanterns and Reading Lamps supplied by MANIREDA, the beneficiary students of border town Moreh were appealed by the Chief Guest, Guest of honour and this Author to read the Bible and make the Word of God their lamp so that they may excel in their chosen courses of academic pursuit and shine. “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path (Psalm 119;105)”. How to make our “dim light” shine? Follow Jesus. Our Lord, like the candle, burned Himself to give light to others. He is the True Light. Let us make His Word the lamp unto our feet.
One of my poems on Life of Light, which was made a Gospel song and video under Gospel Goes Global album, is reproduced below for my dear readers:
LIFE OF LIGHT
1. Well-fed and high-bred in heavenly shire
Of West Virginia that many desire;
The burden that God laid upon you all,
Had driven the will to braid on the call
To save those bound tight in lies of darkness
With which devils ride and the world harness.
We knew no God, all shamed by a dark spell,
You sued low gods, not ashamed of Gospel,
Sent by love of American Baptist Churches,
Grace-held Lord-led Yankees, geared by hunches;
You came out of bliss to for Jesus fight
That you might be blessed to lead Life of Light.
2. Wild and vile, the target tribes were ruthless,
Mired in guile, money-poor folks were restless,
Blissful in sin, their real need they knew not,
Beautiful were the feet that their need brought;
That the light that shone lit and lifts up lives
Tells the Good News in power of God thrives.
3. Prayer for us and gifts of faith we get,
Ever grip good minds to for Christ souls net;
Where the Truth is yet to have an impact,
The path you tread on to save souls-at-stake
Sure shall rake in gains and make heaven act;
‘For it’s more blessed to give than to take’.
4. Best in prayer-list, we delight to mention
A . B . C and the W . V . B. C,
That sacrifices it made didn’t go waste;
Church-edifices adorn the hills in haste;
Great is the Spirit that the Missions drove
And still binds hearts of Nations in His Love.
