By Jon Beaty
In the late 19th century, Marie Curie discovered radium, an element that emits a
mysterious glow. During World War I, American women were hired to paint watches, dials, and military equipment with radium to make these instruments visible in the dark. These workers would shape their paintbrushes to a fine point with their lips, leaving radium residue that created glowing smiles. Tragically, many of these women died painful deaths from radiation poisoning.
While radium's glow brought suffering and death, there exists a different transformative light that brings peace and life—God's love. Unlike radium';s deadly luminescence, God's love changes what it touches not with destruction, but with spiritual revival and growth for those who receive it.
Have you felt spiritually lukewarm—going through religious motions without
experiencing God's transforming love? Many believers struggle with this disconnect, dwelling in spiritual shadows. Yet there is renewal and revival when we receive the light of God's love to drive away this darkness.
The Problem of Spiritual Disconnection
Throughout history, God's people have faced a recurring challenge: maintaining a vibrant connection with their Creator. Like ancient Israel, we can find ourselves
practicing religion without experiencing God's presence. This disconnect often leads to:
• Ritualistic worship without heart engagement
• Knowledge about God without knowing Him personally
• Religious activity without spiritual transformation
God's Character Revealed
The solution lies in deepening our understanding of God's character. In Scripture, His character is often associated with light and glory: "The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you." (Numbers 6:25)
This divine light represents several aspects of God's character:
• Love - He seeks relationship with His people
• Grace - He offers transformation through His presence
• Truth - He reveals reality about ourselves and Him
The Sabbath: A Weekly Encounter
The Bible records the Ten Commandments, given as a reflection of God's character, and providing a standard against which we can measure our own character. At the center of these commandments lies the Sabbath commandment (Exodus 20:8-11). This commandment beautifully embodies what Jesus identified as the Greatest and Second Greatest Commandments—the foundation upon which the entire law rests. The Sabbath Commandment calls us to:
• Love God - by obediently stopping work for ourselves and receiving the benefits of His work
• Love Others - by ensuring rest not just for ourselves but for all within our
influence
The seventh-day Sabbath is the culmination of God’s finished work which began with illuminating the world on the first day of creation. Like radium's glow, the effect of allowing God’s light to illuminate our lives continues beyond the Sabbath hours, transforming our daily lives to reflect Christ’s character to the world.
The Transforming Effect
When people encounter God's light, transformation follows:
• Moses' face shone after meeting with God
• Stephen's face appeared like an angel's during his final testimony
• Jesus' face shone like the sun during the transfiguration
Receiving God's light into our souls marks the beginning of our new creation in Christ. God’s final act before Jesus' return will be empowering His remnant church to illuminate the world with His glory, as symbolized by the Fourth Angel (Revelation 18:1-3).
Practical Steps for Transformation
God’s light is a visible characteristic of His love. To experience God's transforming power of His love:
1. Acknowledge your spiritual condition honestly
2. Invite God's presence into your life daily
3. Honor the Sabbath as sacred time for receiving God’s blessings and blessing others
4. Study His character in Scripture with an open heart
5. Allow His light to expose areas needing change
6. Cooperate with His transforming work
The Call to Action
If you haven’t taken the first step, today is a good day to move beyond lukewarm religion to experience God's transforming presence. Will you invite Him to reveal His character to you and through you?