Letting Your Light Shine

BY REV. DORAL PULLEY

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”  Matthew 5:16

There is a part of us that is light and a part of us that is darkness. The goal is not to get rid of the dark part of us; that will happen when we reach the new heaven and the new earth, a state of manifested perfection. Our goal while we are living on this earth, which can appear dark at times, is to let the light of God that is in us outshine the darkness that is around us.

There is a part of us that is good and a part of us that is evil. The goal is not to eliminate the evil part of us; that will happen when we receive our glorified bodies. Our goal while we are living in these physical bodies is to admit when we are wrong, to learn from the consequences of our decisions and to do better the next time.

There is a part of us that believes God, and a part of us that questions, fears and doubts whether God is going to fulfill God’s promises. The goal is not to pretend that we are all faith and no fear. Our goal while we are living between the truth and the facts is to let the part of us that trusts “be” bigger than the part of us that doubts.

We are going to fall short, but regardless of our shortcomings, we can’t give up; we must let our lights shine right where we are.  Our spirits are perfect, whole and complete. Our souls are developing. Our bodies are imperfect; they are limited by time and space. In the midst of the imperfections of our souls and our bodies, it is important for us to let our lights shine right here and right now. Even if you see your light as dim at the moment, remember the old hymn: “This light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. Let it shine. Let it shine. Let it shine.”

This week, affirm aloud these words: The light of God surrounds me. I AM the light of God and that light is greater than any darkness.

Rev. Doral Pulley is the senior pastor of Unity Temple of Truth Church, 511 Prescott St. S, St. Petersburg.