One definition of
afterglow is “a pleasant
feeling one has after an
enjoyable experience.” In
the afterglow, we can
relive the experience over
and over,
but eventually other
memories will push it
farther from our minds and
the glow will grow dimmer
and dimmer.
My TV remote control has a
phosphorescent dial that
glows in the dark
after the lights are turned out. In the dark room the luminous dial stands
out, but after awhile it ceases to glow. I recall a few Christmases ago I
found some small white
crosses that I gave to
some of the kids on my
shopping list. These too would glow in the dark because they stored
light during the day so they could glow at night in a dark place.
Phosphorescence is the
condition or property of a
substance of giving off
a lingering emission of light after exposure to radiant energy, as a
light. Radiant: The point
or object from which heat
or light emanates.
As pleasant and desirable
as the “afterglow” of an
experience is, it is
“phosphorescent” and
transient. In order for
there to be a continual
afterglow, there has to be
an ongoing exposure to the
point or object of its
source. My TV remote
control eventually loses
its afterglow during the
dark of night. The little crosses which stood out in the dark gradually
became dim until they were charged with light again. We must guard
against being content to stay in the afterglow lest we end up trying
to warm by dying light.
When Moses came down from
the mountain after
spending time with God,
the skin on his face was
glowing (Exodus 34:29-35).
He covered his face
with a veil to subdue the
glow when he had to talk
with the Israelites. His
face kept the glow after his meeting with the Source and repetitious
exposure kept his face shining. It would be great if we could live in the
pleasant afterglow,
however the only way we
can keep it is to stay
close
to the Source from which
it emanates and have
repeated exposure.
Living in the afterglow of
an extraordinary spiritual
experience is a pleasant
place to be for awhile,
but soon the glow wanes
and is then gone. The glow
fades gradually, and we
might not notice it
lessening until it has
faded and
the embers are cold.
Remembering what God “used
to do” is good and
serves as a source of hope in times of discouragement. God told Israel to
talk about His Law and His
dealings with them to
their children beginning
in the morning and at
intervals all during the
day so they would never
forget.
The reason was He wanted them to know that He was still their God,
not the God that was, but the God that IS.
God wanted the Israelites
to stay in the Light and
be recharged every day.
He wants the same thing
for us. It is OK to bask
in the afterglow, but we
shouldn’t put up a mailbox
there. We have to go back
to the Radiant Energy
Source to be recharged. An
afterglow is the “glow
remaining after a light
has gone.” We must return
often and regular to the
Light to keep our
luminescence or there won’t be an afterglow after the stored Light is
gone.
If we try to live in the afterglow, God will become the God that was
instead of the God that is.
As Israel remembered their
fathers, we should have
reverence for the
spiritual pioneers who
hacked their way into the
spiritual wilderness and
created a highway for us,
but that’s only an
afterglow. We have to know
God for ourselves. “God
has no grandchildren.” He
only has first generation
children. We must know Him
for ourselves and not as
the God of our parents or
grandparents. He is “I
AM.” He is now. He wants
us to live in close
proximity of His Light
now, not in the
experiences of past
generations. He never
changes. What He did then,
He will do today.
We must never let the
Cross of Jesus, His
resurrection and our
“blessed
hope” fade from our consciousness and be just an afterglow. We need to
live in that Truth so we will always be charged with His Light enabling us
to shine in the darkness.
Jesus said we were the
light of the world.
Actually He was saying He
was the Light and we are
luminaries of His light
shining in the darkness of
a world desperate for His
Light. Some patio lights
absorb light from the sun
during the day so they can
glow at night. That’s what
we must
do; absorb the Light of
Jesus and be lamps in this
dark world.
Glowing embers of a fire
will soon die if more fuel
is not added to keep the
fire burning. Paul questioned the Galatians: “You did run well. Who
hindered you that you
should not obey the
truth?” They were living
in a
dark afterglow that had
lost its luminescence.
They needed to go back
to the Source and be
recharged with the Truth.
Our feet can keep on
marching long after the
band has moved on, but we
won’t know if we are in
step or not. We need to
fall in line and follow
the parade closely enough
to hear the drum beat so
we can stay in step. Jesus
said “Come unto me.” He
knows we need to hear His
drum beat, be charged over
and over with His Spirit
so our afterglow will be
warm and brilliant.
When He returns, may He
find us in step and not
living in a cold afterglow
but following closely,
renewed and walking in His
Light as He illuminates
us for the world to see
Him.
Enjoy the afterglow, but
don’t live there. God is
“I AM,” not I Was.
Delores Adams
July 8, 2003
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Alice's Legacy
Remembering Alice
Bible Studies
The
"Handkerchief" has been
anointed and prayed over
by several
believers who care about
you and want to help you
realize your full
potential in Christ Jesus
Our Lord.
~The
Ten Commandments~
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