The Lord offers us pictures of His kingdom and metaphors of spiritual warfare entwined in all of creation. Some of them are grand and magnificent, like huge mountain ranges topped with snow or the ocean or a beautiful bride on her wedding day. Some are less grand and, honestly, a little annoying.
In India, we tented in a half built dormitory. At night, we would have squad meetings in the central room which was open to the outside. We turned on the big overhead light and something happened. Bugs. Gnats. Flies. Weird beetle things and moths that I can only imagine were their own Indian species swarmed this light. At night we wouldn’t turn the light on in or room because ALL THE BUGS would come and bight us.
Recently I was at debrief in Cambodia. We stayed in a hostel with a pretty open layout and the bugs came. At night, this place was like a magnet attracting every gnat within 5 miles. There were dead gnats all over the floors and the lights were covered. It reminded me of being a little girl out by my pool staring at our porch light. I would turn on the attached fan and laugh as all the bugs dispersed and stare as they faded into the darkness.
As pesky as these little bugs are, they carry a very significant message in their existence. If you are a follower of Christ, you have a light that is inside of you. The Bible says you are a city on a hill (Matthew 13). When you are lit up, you will attract a lot of gnats. These can appear in a lot of ways, such as attacks of the devil, illness, troubles, or mean people. The devil can’t stand when we have our light on and are shining for the Lord’s glory, so he will throw every gnat he can produce at us in attempts to get us to turn it off. Don’t. God calls us to shine and not hide our lights under a basket (Matthew 13). He does give us a defense against the bugs, though. Like the fan I used to turn on as a child, He gives us prayer. We have the authority to pray in Jesus’ name at any moment. We can access His power through our inheritance. Therefore, don’t turn off your light, but do turn on your fan.
Here’s a very practical application: while I was in the middle of putting together this blog this month in Botswana I was physically attacked by bugs. But really. I got a parasite which caused a great deal of stomach pain, a fierce case of diarrhea (I won’t elaborate for your sake), nausea, vomiting, dizziness, lethargy, and cholitis, or an inflammation of the intestines that caused me to feel a great deal of pain at all times, especially after eating. On top of that, I contracted head lice (from the sweet Cambodian kids), and had a scabies scare. Lastly, I have literally gotten attacked by bugs. Botswana has some freaky bugs, and a lot of them. They were going up my nose, in my mouth, in my clothes… everywhere. I had a few moments of self pity… but God reminded me of this exact message. Satan was trying to attack me with actual pests… but that doesn’t mean I’m going to turn my light off. I don’t have the right to do that, because it’s not mine to turn off in the first place; it’s His. In fact, it made me want to shine brighter. I have declared health and bug freedom over myself and am believing that God can and will heal me completely and grow my perseverance through it.
I encourage you to shine so bright that even if a gnat lands on you it will burn to a crisp. Spiritual warfare is real and Satan will attack with figurative (and possibly literal) bugs. But, don’t turn your light out. God already has the victory, we just have to be willing and ready to live in that.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that[a] they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” – Matthew 5:13-16
