In South Africa at the moment we are suffering from a shortage of power. As a result, we have been subjected to "load shedding" which means that at certain times your electricity can be cut off. In January it was extremely haphazard and you didn't know when you would suddenly be without electricity. It got so bad that there was talk about mines closing down because they couldn't guarantee the safety of their workers.
I bought myself a rechargeable camping light. I couldn't wait for the next power cut. During February we had some respite. Only once was the power cut in my area. It was a stormy afternoon and as the black clouds gathered at last I could use my camping light. Not for long, however, because the electricity came on again at about 5pm.
This month, March, there are threats of power cut but more on a planned basis. Blairgowrie, my area, is due for power cut on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays between 6 and 10pm. At last my lamp can be used. Yesterday, as I left for work, the electricity went off. When I came home, it was on again. So I still have not had a chance to use my nice expensive rechargeable lamp. Sigh.
Then I got to thinking. A lamp is not much good when it's not dark. Jesus says we are the light of the world. For a light to work effectively, there must be darkness. Well, there sure is darkness in South Africa. The crime seems almost out of control. It is not safe for school children to walk home from school – there are muggings and rapes. It is scary to come home at night to your own driveway. Nearly everybody you talk to has been hijacked, or robbed in their home at gunpoint. Only the most violent and scary cases are reported in the newspaper which makes everybody live in fear. AIDS is rampant and the morality of the general population of teenagers does much to help it spread. If ever there was a dark place, it is South Africa. Jesus called us to shine in this dark world.
Yet, some of our best potential lights are emigrating to other countries where it is not so dark. There is surely an accumulation of good South African Christians in Australia, Canada, the UK, New Zealand and America. Don't get me wrong, they are shining their lights brightly where they move but because there's not so much darkness, it makes less of an impact.
Those of us that are left, remember all the darkness in the world can't overcome the feeblest light. Shine for all you're worth!
