"I am the voice of one calling in the desert."
John 1:23

JOHN bore witness to the Light. John allowed the Light to rip open his being, which gave the Light entrance. Doing that he became the vessel OF Light and gave passage for Light to come into this world. His soul was a conduit for Light.

He didn't constrict Light nor contend with Light. Because John gave way to Light's passage in his life, he opened the door to bring Light into other people's lives.

When we give way to Light, Light is brought to others.

To struggle with Light, constricts Light's passage. Contending prevents the Shine from radiating on our path. To strive with Light proves our dissatisfaction with Light's shine. It's standing in judgment of Light's quality or discontentment with the amount of Light. John contended not. He stood within Light's limitations for "John" and brought an expanse of Light to the world.

Because John did not contend with Light's choice of how to shine in his life, he eternally unveiled Light for multitudes. To contend is to lust for Light's greater shine to glorify self. Light does not shine on a person long unless that one is simply a reflector, not a regulator. Light shines as Light wills. Our choice is to receive or not. To receive is to respond to Light's lead and be contained within its parameters. John was satisfied with Light's choice.

John grappled not for acclaim or glory. His eyes were not on himself but wholly on the Light. His focus was beyond self. His gaze was for eternal significance. Because he willingly was contained on earth, he was freed in eternity. He did not look for the illusionary security of fame or for man's awe.

 
Light had honed John down to the essence. John received and accepted his Container. And because John was willingly confined, Light could shine brightly. What was God, increased and what was John, decreased. John, "greater than any man born of a woman" was bright because he was willing to live in the limitations which Light had placed on him. (John 11:11)

John 1:22b "What do you say about yourself?" Give us answer they demanded. They spoke from their own evil hearts. "We care more for the opinion of man than the satisfaction of God, hence you must also." They judged John by their own estimation, by what motivated them. When we continually gaze at self, we see everything from that self-reflecting mirror. To worship self makes us see only self. Everything wears your face, both God and man. Every man has your same motives, every thought of yours is presumed to be God and your evil suspicion of Him is the proof of your own corruption.

Titus 1:15 NAS To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.

 
John didn't flail against God's parameters. Upon the enemies' attempt to "cause him to realize his 'GRANDEUR'," he stated his assignment. "I am the voice of one calling in the desert." That's all, no more.
 

I believe our perceived restrictions and/or limitations are actually the very hands of the Father. The reason Light shines so bright from those willing to live within the walls of God's touch is because it is God. When we kick and rail and fight against His hands we lose not only our life but we lose Him. It is not the constrictions we may perceive. No, the limitations are a womb, walls of His care, concern and foreknowledge of what makes us maximally profitable that we may stand before Him and have Him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

When we wrestle with the hands of God, we lose His Light. Bitterness ensues and we are left having to manufacture Light to maintain a facade. It is then the light in us is darkness.

"Then watch out that the light in you may not be darkness."
Luke 11:35 NAS

Copyright © 2001 John Enslow