Reflections of the Lesser Light

Voice and Spirit By Pastor Steven Olsen, Willow Grove Bible Church   

Romans 1:25 “For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.” 

The song of the sun is bright and magnificent. It rules the sky in flaming splendor. Its brilliance blinds the eye, its warmth gives life, its light cannot be imitated.   

Yet… we turn our gaze elsewhere. We look to the moon — the softer glow, the gentler face. We admire its calm, we study its phases, we write our poems in its pale light. But the moon has no fire of its own. It shines with a borrowed glory. It reflects what it cannot generate.   

And so do we.   

Since Eden’s shadow fell across the soul of man, we have learned to love the dimmer lights. We settle for reflections because the real burns too bright. We settle for religion when we were made for relationship. We settle for comfort when we were called to communion. We settle for the lesser when the Greater still calls our name.   

Our eyes have forgotten how to face the Sun. We bow to the moon because it does not wound our sight. We call half-light peace and shadows truth. We build altars to what will not change us. We warm our hands by a reflected flame and wonder why our hearts grow cold.   

We have grown content with crumbs when the table is set for sons and daughters. We reach for scraps beneath the Master’s hand instead of lifting our eyes to His face.   

But the call still echoes across creation:   

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” (Isaiah 60:1)   

Do not fear the brilliance that exposes you — for it is the same Light that heals you. Do not turn from the fire that purges — for it is the same fire that refines you. Do not hide beneath the moon — for the Sun of Righteousness has risen with healing in His wings!   

We were not made for the twilight of imitation, but for the dawn of transformation. Not for the cool gray of the reflected, but for the living blaze of the Real. Not for lesser light — but for Glory Himself. JESUS!