Last month, I got to witness firsthand the power of God’s light inside of us.
Our whole squad was doing ministry with the Christian Light Foundation in the community of Los Guido and staying at a place called the Finca. The Finca has a grassy area for playing soccer and such, a church, a feeding center within a huge gym-like building (where we slept), and a home for the wonderful family who run the feeding center and take care of the property. The Finca is an incredible place that truly turned into our home during the four weeks we stayed in Los Guido. But it wasn’t anything to do with the property itself, but rather whose property it is – The Lord’s. The Finca is a place where God’s very presence resides.
But the Finca kind of stands out like a sore thumb in the middle of Los Guido. On our first day, we were told it was the second most dangerous slum in Costa Rica, and after hearing not-so-distant gunshots during our first night of worship, I found that incredibly easy to believe. We were told not to wear backpacks outside the Finca, not to leave after dusk, and to never go anywhere alone ever. The darkness around the community was actually palpable. It was clear that the devil has had a stronghold on this community for a long time, and he was attacking left and right. Two days before we arrived in Costa Rica, a fire erupted in the factory building right behind the Finca. It was huge, and it was dangerously close to destroying the Finca. Clearly the devil was afraid of what the Lord might do through us.
But we weren’t afraid.
We went out into the community with the authority the Lord gives us through His Spirit. We prayed for the people of Los Guido in person and through intercession, we loved on the children and empowered the adults, we engaged with the community, and, most importantly, we shared the light of Christ. And it changed the community.
At the end of the month, people on the streets who once ignored our “Hola’s” were now the ones initiating conversations. Children, teens, and adults who previously never knew Jesus’ name were now praising Him. That physical darkness that we once felt as soon as we stepped outside the gates of the Finca was now noticeably diminished. I’m not saying this to brag about what awesome missionaries we are, but to brag about God! He is love and He is power and He is alive because He resides in us.
Let me elaborate on that fire I mentioned earlier. It wasn’t just dangerously close to the destroying the Finca – it should have destroyed it. San Jose’s fire department was struggling a bit that day, so that roaring fire, just feet from the feeding center, had all kinds of extra time to take out the Finca; the enemy was so close to success. But what He wasn’t counting on was the wall of protection God had placed around His beloved sanctuary. A tree next to the back wall was literally split in half: the side hanging over the property line was burnt to a crisp and the side within the Finca was full of life. That fire should have completely destroyed the Finca, but it never stood a chance. God’s very presence protected this place. Stupid little devil…
During our time in Costa Rica, God used us to take His light – His very presence – that resides inside the Finca and spread it all over the community of Los Guido. We all have His light inside us, and the world is desperate to be brought out of the darkness. Go and let your light shine.
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16
