Some would say that the greatest challenge facing the church today is the challenge of keeping the darkness of the world from infiltrating into our hearts, to keep the command given in Matthew 5:16:
“...Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
“Remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”
By Praying
By Working
By Laboring
By Hoping
When William Randolph Hearst sent out his chief agent to find his five most coveted works of art from around the world, the one thing he expected least was what happened next. You see, within a few days the agent was back and, Hearst, in surprise, asked, “Did you find what I was looking for?” The agent replied, “Yes, I found everything you wanted.” He paused for a second and then said, “But what I found may surprise you.” Brushing this off, Hearst said, “Well, where did you find them?” “Well sir, I actually found them in your warehouse. You already owned them all.”
When Hearst flew his chief agent around the world in search of the coveted works of art, the one thing he expected least is for them to be in his warehouse. Sometimes we’re like that. We search high and far for the hidden virtue, the one thing that will make our lights shine so much brighter when, in reality, we already have it. We try so hard to change our batteries when we already have the desire to pray, a faith of works, a love that labors, and a hope defeats the darkness of this world. All we have to do is search our spiritual inside for these things and “work them out,” continually make them stronger and brighter. If we do that, then what we find, what we do, how much brighter our light becomes - even without changing the batteries–may just surprise us.