Some years ago I was far more ambitious than now. To cope with the cold winters it was not uncommon to cut eight to twelve cords of firewood to help keep our home warm.

Early one Saturday morning a group of us headed north to what seemed to be a prime firewood-cutting area. For me this was the third trip; easily finding an abundance of wood each time. We left very early that morning, hoping to get back before day was too spent. As we drew close to the target location we left the paved road and turned onto a dirt forest service road. The darkness was overwhelming and our headlights seemed to illuminate so very little. Hundreds of yard of winding roads turned into several miles, all the time only the bottom five or six feet of trees were visible.

It was still dark as we reached our destination. One of the guys that came along looked around and asked about the dead trees – the only ones we could legally cut. It was still so dark that nothing was visible outside the range of the feeble headlights. Several cups of coffee later the eastern sky began to lighten so that silhouettes of standing trees became quite visible – but the same question was raised: “Where are the dead trees?”

It was not until the sun had risen over the horizon that it became apparent that we were surrounded by dead trees. On all sides, as far as we could see, were dead trees ready for us to harvest in preparation for the upcoming long and cold winter.

The Bible speaks of this, of man (that's you and me) walking in darkness. In sending the apostle Paul to the gentiles Jesus said, “...to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” (Acts 26:18)

Paul then goes on to write to the Romans, “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. “(Romans 13:11-13)

Just as we could not see but for a few feet as we drove into the forest, we can't see without Jesus' Light. “Then Jesus said unto those around Him, 'Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light.'” (John 12:35-36)

So the question for now is: “Is Gods' Light shining in your heart today?”

“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. “ (2 Corinthians 4:6)