Get Out Your Windex
Debby DeStefano
“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Matthew 5:14-16
We once lived in a house where the bedroom was very small. It had windows but it still seemed dark at times. I was into glass etching at the time and so I etched 3 long arched mirrors to hang on the wall. I also added mirrored doors on the closet. Wow! What a difference that made. A room that once seemed dark was filled with light. Why? Because those mirrors reflected the small amount of light that was present in that room and multiplied it many times over and produced a bright and welcoming room.
“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
John 8:12
We have probably all read this verse and realize that God is the Light of the world. But did you know that it is up to us as Christians to reflect His light to a dark world? We are the mirrors that reflect His light to others.
“Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.”
Isaiah 60:1-2
Did you catch that in the above verse? The glory of the Lord is risen upon US. It goes on to say that His glory will be seen upon us. Is His glory seen on us? Are we reflecting His glory and His light? Are we attracting others to our light that is mirrored from our Heavenly Father? Or is our mirror dirty from the things of this world that interfere with our light? Things maybe that have accumulated
over time, and we don’t even realize how smudged and dirty our mirror has become.
“As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
John 9:5
We have a back porch that is completely glass all around and that has been my refuge over the past 4 years as I struggle with my health. I thank God for this room where I am every single day because I get to see God’s nature all around me through the trees and the animals. We have a deer feeder and bird feeders which keep me entertained every day. I love sitting here and watching nature come alive. However, we live in the woods, so the glass gets dirty pretty easily and makes the view not as clear. This past week my husband cleaned them inside and out. Glass is so easy to get smudges on and so hard to get the smudges and dirt off. Just like mirrors. But what a difference it made
when he was done. The glass was clear again and I could see with no obstructions or smears.
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
John 5:16
The same can be said of our mirrors. How often do you clean your mirror? Do you even realize that it needs to be cleaned? God clearly tells us that we are His mirrors in this world.
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:6
How does your mirror look? Is it smudged and clouded with disobedience, fear, doubt, rebellion, and laziness? If so, it’s time to get out the Windex and clean it. Wipe it clean of all the things that keep your mirror from reflecting God’s glory and light.
“For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:”
Ephesians 5:8
About the Author
Debby, the daughter of our church founder, has dedicated her life to serving God at Fairwinds Baptist Church. Now a retired pastor's wife, she continues to inspire us with uplifting devotionals, choosing joy despite her health struggles. Her unwavering faith enriches our community and reflects our mission to know God through Jesus Christ.
