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Summertime.
A time for much needed vacations, barbeques and lots of hot
weather. Life forms once buried under heaps of clothing are
reborn with T-shirts and shorts. While people like myself
seek refuge under air conditioners, the outdoors is a
retreat for sun worshippers.
As dawn calls out to those willing to feast on its
early light, devoted followers come prepared. They gather at
sandy beaches, the nearest pools, or parks - any place to
soak up the sun’s glory. With equipment in hand, folks
mark their territory with a towel or lounge chair. Water,
reading materials, and a possible hat are situated within
arms distance then seats are taken. Bodies are prepped with
sunscreen or sunblock to protect the skin. Shades are
applied and the meeting between sun and man begins.
The sun seems to smile upon its enthusiastic
worshippers. As it moves, bodies change position to ensure
an even result. This synchronized dance could go on for
minutes, maybe hours, depending on how readily the body can
receive what the sun provides.
For those transformed by the touch of the sun, they
can walk away having their desires fulfilled - the
“perfect” tan. Others may go away still longing for more
and can return as often as they wish until their needs are
met.
People who want the natural looks, but aren’t
willing to sweat it out, can resort to other measures.
Tanning salons are outfitted with tanning beds that offer
artificial radiation. As the body lays a thin piece of
Plexiglas, light bulbs emit ultraviolet rays that the skin
perceives as real sunrays. There’s also airbrush tanning,
spray on tans, tanning pills and tanning lotions that come
in shades to match your natural skin color. These methods
give the appearance of authenticity but lack the ability to
produce lasting effects that only the real sun can give.
When soaking up natural sun, one has to be careful not
to overexpose the skin, which could result in sunburn,
melanoma or skin cancer.
When soaking up the true Son, we need not concern
ourselves with overexposure. In fact, too much Jesus means
none of us, which is a good thing. However, many of us
aren’t willing to wait out the process. We visit churches
and “spray” on God for a day or two and hope we can fool
enough folks, even ourselves into believing that we have it
all together. The lies will eventually fade away and then
we’re left Son deprived. The answers don’t come in
bottles. The answers come when we’re willing to sacrifice
our flesh under God’s rays and let them “burn” deep
inside to the internal matters. Heart issues that were once
resistant to change will eventually give way to the Light.
Once that happens, the transformation overflows onto the
external. Again this is a process. Lasting results may take
a while but the Son is available every moment of every day
– take advantage! Our countenance will radiate and
others will notice the difference. And when we’re asked
about our glow, what a great opportunity to tell them
we’ve been soaking up the Son.
Then
the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of
their Father.
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Matthew 13:43a
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