...I SMELL SMOKE IN THE AUDITORIUM...

SCRIPTURE: "And this is the judgement, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light, for their deeds were evil." John 3: 19

When my wife was a child, probably before school age (as I was told), she took the opportunity
early-on to share her singing talent. It was during a church service of some sort, where she distinguished herself singing the secular song "Charlie Brown,” which I'm sure most of us know. "Fee-fee, Fi-fi, Fo-fo, Fum... I smell smoke in the auditorium. Charlie Brown, Charlie Brown, he's a clown... that Charlie Brown. He's gonna get caught. Just you wait-n see! Why's everybody always pickin' on me?"

If that was captured then, on You-tube or Facebook, I'm sure it would've gotten a "million likes."
It seems the personality in this little ditty has a natural inclination towards trouble, and in context, he is as clueless about it, as he is prone to mischief. Here he is, the chief suspect in either taking a smoke or, at worst, committing arson in the auditorium. He's labelled a 'clown.’ That diagnosis is arguable. Now, how about the "auditorium" of our heart? Is it more like a sanctuary, inviting of the heavenly and reflective of godly splendor, or is it a junk magnet? Perhaps it is somewhere in between, or perhaps a bit of both variably, a shape-shifter? Do you smell smoke in the auditorium?

Not to worry... no matter how profound a "Charlie Brown" you are, God's got something for you! Grace. No matter how microscopic you perceive your mess to be, God's got something for you! Mercy. You see, none but the righteous shall see God. It is the putting of the Spirit of Christ in us, and upon us, that we may be put before the perfect gaze of God, and be pleasing.

We need to know that the behaviors of a fallen world are "fallen"... that 'evil grazes in the fields of our blessing,’ and our sole response is to LET our little light shine.[by which there isn't any smoke] By the faithfulness of God we have been brought from blight to bright, and He will never leave us, nor forsake us.

For Gideon, the youngest within the lesser family of Manasseh, God permitted a lessening, to letting that little light shine, reducing the available ranks of his men lest Israel become boastful, saying, "My own power has delivered me." as they were to contend with their enemy, the Midianites. [Judges 7:2] With the Midianites were the Amalekites, and others, and together they were numerous as locusts. God, however, elected to allow the reduction of the number of men under Gideon from 32,000 to 300. The 300 were evenly divided into three companies boasting trumpets, torches, and pitchers, as well as the ever crucial obedience to see one odd victory unfold. Outnumbered, victory was had, without having swords. "Won't He do it?!"

So, in letting your light so shine before all people, consider: But since we are of the day, let us be
sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ who died for us, that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him. Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing.” [ 1st Thessalonians 5:8-11]. Moreover, “Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass. [1st Thessalonians 5:24] Believe. Behave. Be glad.

PRAYER: Precious Lord, allow me that sanctified self-talk that is INSISTENT on my better self showing up, and help me to be CONSISTENT in the living out of it, as well as PERSISTENT day by day, and may the glory be all Yours when this "little light of mine" has been let to shine everywhere I go. Help me to be RESISTANT to the world, the flesh, and the lures of the evil one. Bless You, Jesus. It's in Your wonderful name I gratefully ask it. Amen!
By Bro. McNeal Brockington