False Light

BZZZT! ZAP! BZZZZZZZZZZT! Goes the bug light in the middle of summer as the night bugs are drawn to it. They may have some intelligence in their little brains, but man has outsmarted them to be drawn to a light!

Have you ever drawn to a “light” just to be zapped? If you haven’t you’re one of the few. I know that I’ve been there. Drawn in, and then BZZT! Oh, the pain of the zapping! How does it feel for you?

As we looked at Matthew 2:1-8 yesterday, we focused on how Herod (the Great) was a false light, just waiting to lure in people to “zap” them. Of course he ultimately wanted to “zap” Jesus…but that didn’t happen.

I found it interesting to focus on Herod and what he was doing in this text. I was interested in him because of thinking how there are “Herods” out there that we may be lured to or “zapped” by, thinking they are a good light. Here are some applications to choose from to use this week…

1. Evaluate the light ~ Lights can come into our eyes and cloud our judgment or even paralyze us for a moment. As you approach a “light” or a situation, look it over. Look for the safeties or harmful effects it can have on your life.
2. Don’t Let History Repeat Itself ~ Look at past “zaps” and how they affected your life. Learn from them so that they do not repeat. Share those “zaps” with those who haven’t traveled the roads you’ve traveled. Even if it may seem as if you are talking to no one, they probably are listening more than you think.
3. Turn to a True Light ~ “God is light” in which we should be looking to for safety. This is always a safe light to run to in life. There is not a falseness found in Him. He will always “leave the light on for you” and not lead you into wreckage

It may seem obvious, looking on this text from the outside, that Herod was up to no good. Plus, the author lets us in on the subject a bit. Occasionally, we may think in instances like these, “I won’t happen to me”. Then, before long, we are right in that exact situation…be careful about self-righteousness!

 

Trying to stay away from “false lights” and avoid getting “zapped”!