It was getting dark as I walked through the rocky landscape ridden with holes that lead to a rushing waterfall below. “One false step and I could be injured” I thought to myself as I maneuvered past them. Finally, just as there was no more light except from the stars above we reached a cave. On the outside this cave appeared as any other cave, but this one was different. I entered the cave and saw that there was an outcrop that was surrounded by a small cliff and water. The room we were in wasn’t any larger than my bedroom at home and it was immensely dark. However, on a second glance small lighted dots began to fill every inch of the wall and ceiling around us-thousands upon thousands of glow warms inhabited this cave-it was amazing, and words to describe this splendor escape me. Silently I sat down, and in a reverent awe we had communion to celebrate the creator of the Heavens and the Earth; the creator of every living creature including the glow worms and the creator who sent his son to die for us so that we may fully live and experience Christ’s love without fear of his wrath.
Sitting in the cave I began to think about the glow worms-of how they glow because they are hungry, and the brighter they glow the hungrier they are. That even when there was just one or two glow worms the darkness around them was dispelled and could not come near. This is similar to how the love of Christ should affect us. The more we dive into the word, the hungrier we are for the word the more we will shine forth God’s glorious power and love. Even if the number of Christians are few, the darkness is still dispelled and we can have an effect on those around us. Here in Malaysia there are not many Christians and many people are persecuted for their faith, especially if they are Malay. Christians are seen here, and the love of Christ that is in them is very evident.
No, this cave is not in Malaysia but I am sure there are plenty of glow warm caves dotting the country here. This cave was in New Zealand and I was there with my fellow Capernwray classmates. One night this week while we were trying to get comfortable it was mentioned that we looked like glow warms laying in our sleeping bags and it caused me to think of that wonderful night 5 years ago.
This week I have been painting a mural on a wall that runs along the stairwell that leads to a church. This stairwell is next to a little Indian shop and a Chinese restaurant (of which is a part of the church). Numerous people come and watch us paint, or cut out thousands of paper hearts for another outreach project. We are watched, and I am sure people notice something different about us. How many white people would come and cut out hearts or paint for hours on end in the heat for no apparent gain? Today the Indian family next door came over and watched us paint for a bit commenting on how beautiful the painting was, and I am sure they read the Psalm that was written on the wall. What a testimony to that family and the numerous people that walks past. We are being a light in the darkness, and I pray that my hunger for Christ grows more and more so that I can shine even brighter. Some days it is very hard for that light to shine, and I have to press into God even more. My prayer for the people that we have been working with is that they will be lights in the darkness as well and that they will have an impact on Malaysia that can only be directed back to God.
