The Writer's Reflected Light

by Kay DiBianca @KDiBianca

God spoke our world into being, and the first words we hear Him say in Genesis Chapter One are, “Let there be light.” Light is symbolic of many things in Scripture, all of them good. Some of these are

Guidance: “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” –Psalm 119:105

Understanding: “The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” –Psalm 119:130

Holiness “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” –Isaiah 60:1
Righteousness: “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.” –Psalm 37:5-6

Hope “Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,” --Ephesians 1:18

Salvation: “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” –John 8:12

Discipleship: “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” –Matthew 5:16

* * * 

Lately, I’ve been reading about the menorah, the golden lampstand that the Lord instructed Moses to build and place inside the Tabernacle. The Hebrew word “menorah” translates to the English “lamp.”

The menorah was to be forged from a single piece of gold, and the design was specific: it would have a central shaft and three branches on each side for a total of seven. I’ve read that this design represents the seven days of creation, with the central shaft denoting the Sabbath.

According to Exodus 25:37, God continued his instruction: “You shall make seven lamps for it. And the lamps shall be set up so as to give light on the space in front of it.”

The menorah illuminated the Tabernacle with God’s light. But it required the work of the priests to keep the candles burning.

“ In the tent of meeting, outside the veil that is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall tend it from evening to morning before the Lord.” – Exodus 27:21

Of course, God could have caused a miracle so that there was always supernatural light inside the Tabernacle, but instead, He commanded the priests to partner with Him to keep His light shining. It was both a wonderful privilege and an enormous responsibility.

* * * 

It isn’t a great leap to see how God calls each of us to reflect His light to a dark world. As authors, we’ve been given the gift of words. Just as it was the priests’ job to replenish the oil in the menorah, we’re responsible for using words to keep the light of truth alive.

Through our understanding of language, we have the opportunity and privilege to partner with God to enlighten our world. Each day, we kindle the flame to reflect His light through our words.

Don’t let the fire go out. 

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The Writer's Reflected Light from @KDiBianca on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Kay DiBianca is a former software developer and IT manager who retired to a life of mystery. She holds an M.S. in Computer Science from the University of North Carolina and uses her love of problem-solving to create intricate webs for her characters to untangle as they search for the truth while dealing with the ongoing challenges of faith and family. 

Kay has three published mystery novels in The Watch Series: The Watch on the Fencepost, Dead Man’s Watch, and Time After Tyme. Her published short stories include Lady Pilot-in-Command, The Clutter Busters, and The Money Tree. 

Kay is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, Sisters in Crime, and the Collierville Christian Writers Group. She is also a regular contributor to the Kill Zone Blog. An avid runner, she can often be found at a nearby track, on the treadmill, or at a large park near her home

Kay and her husband, Frank, live, run, and write in Memphis, Tennessee. You can connect with Kay at https://kaydibianca.com.