A Pastor’s Perspective

“Shine Like Fireworks or Stars?” by Mike Hill, pastor of Calvary Chapel Aberdeen

Listen to CALVARY RADIO 90.3 FM (mjhill@ida.net)                                      

     KA-BOOM!  The earth rumbled in response to the gas-bomb that was set off to commence the fireworks display.  I blurted out to my friend sitting beside me, “Man!  I can’t believe how LOUD that was!”  I was among a crowd of people composed of family and friends.  We were all invited to witness the biggest pyrotechnic event in Aberdeen.  Of all the 4^th of July fireworks I’ve seen, this had to be the loudest and brightest.  I mean, we were so close that we could even  feel the fireworks.  I began to ponder how this might illuminate a spiritual truth. 

     Jesus said, “Let your light so shine…” (Matthew 5:16a).  I want my life to shine.  I desire to live in such a way that I bring glory to God…to have an eternally significant impact on others.  I’m impressed at the brilliance and color of the fireworks on the 4^th of July.  They are launched into the air with a BOOM and burst out brightly with a BANG.  But their light fades just as quickly as they began to shine.  I’d rather shine like a long lasting star than a bright and brief firework display.  The Bible says, “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever” (Daniel 12:3).

     Pastor Chuck Smith, a great hero of mine, said, “You know, there are some people whose life is like a skyrocket. They make a big flash, but they burn out very fast. You know, they hit the scene and everybody says, ‘Oohh, ahhh,’ you know. But just that fast they fade away. The glory of man is so transient. You know, the crowd may be cheering you today but jeering you tomorrow. The glory of man so transient. The big flash, ‘ohhhhhhh,’ but the burn out. But the place to really shine is in God's kingdom.  You know, on the fourth of July I like to go out and see the big pyrotechnic display. And I ‘oohh’ and ‘ahhh’ at the beautiful skyrockets. But you know, when it's all over for a while you lose sight of the stars. You know, there's so much flash in the atmosphere around you, you don't see the stars up there. But when it’s all over, there they are shining forever and ever. Maybe not with such a big flash, but they keep going. Some people make a big flash, but that's the end of it. ‘They that be wise will shine as this as the brightness of the firmament. And they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever’” (http://www.blueletterbible.org). How do you want to shine?

 “The path of the just is like the shining sun that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.

The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble” (Proverbs 4:18, 19).