Photo Credit: Movie, City of Embers
If you have seen the movie – City of Ember, you will understand why I chose this title today. It speaks of the people of Ember who have enjoyed bright shining lights for over four decades until something terrible happened that through the city into perpetual darkness, lit only by tiny domestic lamps.
As I write my Ember series, and thoughts of this movie return to mind, I begin to see myself as a tiny piece of ember. And aren’t we all; each one of us, a piece of red-hot coal glowing in the dark patches of this world. And like the City of Palms spoken of in the book of Exodus, representing God’s provision to His people, we are the City of Embers, representing God’s hope to a dying world.
And since embers are the red-hot remains of a dying fire, and we agree that those red-hot coals can be fanned into another great fire, then let us be encouraged and let our lights shine! How can you shine your light in these dark days where want and lack seem to suppress the voice of contentment and thanksgiving? How can you shine your light where scheming and ingratitude are the order of the day and greed screams louder than generosity?
There are two cities at work here: the City of the Night (where the works of darkness avail), and the City or Embers (where righteousness prevail). If we let our tiny glowing ember coals go out then the world would be covered in pitch black. But we can’t let that happen, would we? Let your light so shine that men may see your good works and glorify our Father in heaven.
So this December, Remember - you are a citizen of the City of Embers. Shine!
Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
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