Last Updated on December 3, 2020 by OCF Communications

by David Warner, OCF ED

In the early days of sailing, prior to generators, the question of how to illuminate the space below deck was an issue. While whale oil and kerosene lamps provided some light, sailors had to endure the smell and fumes. 

Some enterprising seafarers came up with a suitable answer–a deck prism.  This six-sided crystal was flat on one end and came to a point at the other. After cutting out a hole in the deck, the deck prism was laid with the pointed side down, refracting the light from above into the dark spaces below.

My question is, how is your light shining? 

The Bible says, In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16). In this present world, you’re fighting a spiritual battle as well as a physical one.  Ephesians 6 instructs us to fight the spiritual battle with the armor of God–the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, feet fitted with readiness, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. Examine these components and I believe you can see these weapons as fellowship, prayer, and the Word.

I remember a different kind of warfare from my active duty days–cyber-war, in which we would initially defend against by employing “defense-in-depth.”  This defense-in-depth consisted of a firewall, providing a perimeter of defense to keep out the bad guys, and anti-virus software patrolling within the perimeter to ensure nothing had slipped through to do damage, steal information, or render you useless. The last line of defense was the user who employed a password or other measures to encrypt and protect their information. 

In the spiritual world, we can draw the same analogy-our defense-in-depth measures include fellowship, which acts as our perimeter defense, surrounding us with brothers and sisters to hold up our hands and protect us from outside evil influences.  Prayer acts as spiritual anti-virus protection, culling out evil thoughts and evoking the Holy Spirit to keep the “hard drive” of our inner man unpolluted.  And by feasting on the Word, we password-protect our heart and mind with Scripture, locking and protecting our thoughts.

As you continue to serve our nation, know that OCF was tailor-made to come alongside and provide you with the defense-in-depth measures needed to keep your light shining brightly–the light of Christ so desperately needed in these dark days.  For the past sixty-eight years OCF fellowships have kept us in communion with Christ as we gather with fellow believers.  Our constant prayers invoke the Holy Spirit and His protection to keep out life’s many viruses invading our lives.  Our Bible studies and other resources enable us to be in the Word, feasting on it, deeply hiding it in our hearts and minds-“password-protecting” our thought life and emotions.

What an honor and privilege it is to run this race alongside you–our military men and women and families–helping keep the light of Christ shining brightly to illuminate the paths of those around us walking in darkness. Join us!

So let me once again ask, How is your Christ light shining in the places where He has you right now?  If it’s dim, shout out and let OCF help rekindle its brightness. If it’s bright–use it to illuminate the paths of others toward Him who paid the ultimate price for us!