“Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone.” I thought of that song lyric a lot last week. I dropped Cheryl off at the airport on Sunday. She flew to St. Louis for several meetings because of her position on the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League Board of Directors. She did not fly back until Saturday evening. I always miss her terribly when she is gone, but the reason I kept thinking about that song lyric had a different significance this time. I literally did not see the sun the entire week. We had rain and fog and clouds all week long. It was not until I was driving to the airport on Saturday that the sun finally made a brief appearance before going back behind the clouds again for the rest of the day. The next morning, the skies were completely clear and it was a beautiful, sunny day!

Because of the rain, I was stuck inside much of the week, unable to do some of the things outside that I wanted to do. I made use of the time cleaning, organizing, and decluttering our house. I made several trips to donation centers to get rid of stuff that was sitting in our home and attic unused. While I got things done, it was not much fun. I did not feel like I was living life to the fullest.

As I think about that dreary week that just ended, I think that must be what it is like for those who live without the light of Christ in their lives. They know they are missing something, but they don’t know what it is. They are not really doing the things they want to do. There is no true joy and happiness. A dreary existence indeed.

Look at what Jesus said about Himself.

John 8:12 “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 9:5  While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

Jesus was the Light that was sorely needed in a world of darkness. He showed people God and His love. Literally. And He did what was needed so that everyone could be in the light here on earth and forever in heaven. He paid for sin and earned forgiveness for all people. It is available to anyone and everyone who will take Him up on His offer.

Jesus knew that He would go back to His Father. The light of the Son of God has shined into this world. Jesus did not want the world to have to say “Ain’t no sunshine when He’s gone,” so He told His followers to shine His light.

Matthew 5:14–16 “You are the light of the world. A city 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 men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

We are to shine the light of Jesus, the Son-shine, for others to see. We do this by our words and actions. We should live in a way that shows our faith to others, and we should tell them why we live that way. Paul also wrote about this light.

2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

Those of us who live in the light, who live in the Son-shine, need to let others see the light through us.