Monday, January 2, 2012

Firework

I want to share a song- it's not a Christian song, and I don't think Katy Perry was thinking about Jesus when she wrote it.  But I've been obsessed with it lately.

In Bible study, I like to "observe, interpret, apply" by analyzing the words and trying to understand them in how God could be speaking to us. I'd like to share a deeper level I've been seeing in these lyrics.

Do you ever feel like a plastic bag, drifting through the wind wanting to start again?
Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin like a house of cards, one blow from caving in?
Do you ever feel already buried deep? Six feet under screams
but no one seems to hear a thing
Do you know that there's still a chance for you, 'Cause there's a spark in you
You just gotta ignite, the light, and let it shine
Just own the night, like the 4th of July

'Cause baby, you're a firework, Come on, show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh," As you shoot across the sky-y-y
Baby, you're a firework, Come on, let your colors burst
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh," You're gonna leave 'em all in awe, awe, awe

You don't have to feel like a waste of space, You're original, cannot be replaced
If you only knew what the future holds, after a hurricane comes a rainbow
You just gotta ignite, the light, and let it shine
Just own the night like the 4th of July

'Cause baby, you're a firework, Come on, show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh," as you shoot across the sky-y-y
Baby, you're a firework, come on, let your colors burst
Make 'em go "Oh, Oh, Oh," You're gonna leave 'em all in awe, awe, awe

Something is wrong...
Do you ever feel paper thin, one blow from caving in?

Have you ever felt this way? A lot of you have felt sadness, depression, or just disappointment. You aren't living the life you wanted- you aren't the one you were created to be. We even look around at others and see people more dead than alive.

This darkness comes as a separation from God. He is the light, and without light, we're in darkness.

They grope in darkness with no light; he makes them stagger like drunkards. (Job 12:25)
I don't understand what I do. I want to do good, but I don't. I hate what I do. (Romans 7:15, 18b)

They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. (Ephesians 4:18)

Ignite the Light 
You gotta ignite the light and let it shine... you're a firework

I believe that something inside you longs to be re-united with God. Hard work or perfect living won't get you there. Maybe you've already tried everything else.

God's Spirit is a light that wants to ignite inside you. He has a different plan for you, rather than stumbling in darkness, He wants you to be a firework, a beauty display of His glory for everyone to see.

God said, "I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them." (Isaiah 42:16)

God doesn't leave us to our blindness, He doesn't want us to stumble and trip on the road of life. He doesn't even want us to walk down the same old paths- He has a new path to walk!

Jesus said, "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." (John 12:46)

God sent His son, Jesus, as a display of His light on Earth. He made the ultimate explosion when He died on the cross to take away the sins and the darkness of the world. In our world, fireworks are short. They explode and are gone. But this light didn't go out- Jesus rose from the dead, and still today, God's spirit is on the earth in the hearts of believers.

God's Promise 
If you only knew what the future holds, after a hurricane comes a rainbow

If you are willing to accept God's Spirit into your heart, there is a hurricane! Awareness of sin, of distance from God- your mind begins to be made new, your lifestyle starts to change. God's light is shined on all the dark places of your soul and it can HURT. But the rainbow is God's promise not to destroy you. He is only destroying the sin in you- the old dirty stuff that was killing you. Now you are a new creation- becoming what God planned for you.

But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. (Ephesians 5:13)

Show 'em what you're worth

Just own the night like the 4th of July

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)

When God turns on the light in our heart, we become a firework! We become a light also that others can see and marvel at.

Like little kids sing, "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine" we don't hide our light. Own the night- light up the sky like the 4th of July.

God's forgiveness, love and transformation is so amazing- let all the world see you as God's amazing firework.

Even Christians feel that same exhausted emptiness when we keep our light dim, only giving it enough fuel to stay alive. True life with God is to give everything- to explode across the sky without fear or doubt.

Does that look like your life?

an invitation 

1. come warm yourself by the Fire
Investigate God, come closer and learn more about Him in  community.

2. ignite the Light
Believe Jesus takes away darkness. Invite God's Spirit to live in you.

3. be a Firework
Don't hide the light God gave you. Show it to the world. (Leave people in awe!)

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