The lamp post

I became curious. Why the light in this  lamp post is not as bright as the rest? 

I was walking toward our block and I can spot the difference at a distance. In a row of ten lamp posts, this  one is obviously dimmer than the rest. It became clearer to me when I stood directly under the lamp. There were dead insects piled up inside the glass cover. How did the insects get there? It puzzled my mind because it was sealed.

“If only the cover is cleaned up, the lamp will be bright again” I thought. “Poor lamp, it cannot clean itself.”  But farther than the lamp, I saw some lives of  Christians. They were once strong and faithful.  How their  sins crept in is mind boggling  too. If only their lives are removed of all these, they will be again a shining testimony for the Lord.  The problem is not the lack of power to shine. It is the precipitate of sins that hardened and soured their souls.

The next day, I passed by again the lamp post and it was as bright as the rest. I  learned the maintenance guy came and cleaned it. In the same manner, we need  Him and His forgiveness to restore us to our effectiveness.

Now, I can walk  in this pathway  confidently without ever stumbling. Thank God. The  light in the lamp posts  are  shining brightly. Hopefully, no insects may wiggle into its sealed cover again.

Can we be truly the bright lights in the spiritual lamp posts of this darkened world? (Matt 5:16). By God’s grace, I hope and pray.