Is joy not a radiant light that simply cannot be hidden? Like a light on a high hill that cannot be hidden? For is joy not an entirely unmissable light that pierces even the deepest darkness of gloom? For have you ever seen a joy that can be suppressed by the darkness of despair? And does joy simply not stand out, unmistakably, in any kind of crowd?

     And is peace likewise also not a light on a hill that cannot be hidden? And is the same not true for kindness? And gentleness? And goodness? And is the same not true for love, and faithfulness, and patience and self-control? Which is when we wear the entire spectrum of light that is the nine fruits of the Spirit. Which is to say that we make the character and nature of Jesus visible or apparent in our lives unto the darkness that is the world. For is it not written “In Him was life, and that life was the light of men”? (John 1:4). Which is when we wear the fullness and the exact representation of the radiance of Jesus’ glory. As a light on a high hill that cannot be hidden.

     For is there not a primary call unto all to come “out of darkness into His marvellous light”? (1 Peter 2:9). And is it not written: “For the darkness is passing away, and the real light is already shining“? (1 John 2:8). And is it not written: “And the light shines in the darkness; and the darkness cannot overcome it!”? (John 1:5). Which is what Isaiah foretold in Isaiah 60:3 when he prophesied: “The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.” Which is that day when: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. They lived in a land of shadows, but now light is shining on them.” (Isaiah 9:2).

     Did the Lord Jesus not also say to the Pharisees: “Whoever follows me will have the light of life and will never walk in darkness”? (John 8:12). Since “God is light, and there is no darkness at all in him.” (1 John 1:5). Which is to walk not in the lifelessness of the darkness of winter by having the tilt of our axis turned away from the light of God, but to rather walk in the very summer of all life by having our axis inclined forever towards the radiant light of the fountain of all life. Which is what David was referring to in Psalm 36:9 when he said: “For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light.”

     For the light of Jesus shines not only through the fruit of the Spirit, but also through the gifts of the self-same Spirit. And just like there are nine fruits of the Spirit, there are nine gifts of the Spirit, where nine represents or denotes completeness. A complete light. A light that is perfect, lacking nothing. “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. (1 Corinthians 12:4). And are these gifts not all a light on a high hill that cannot be hidden?

     And of those who live and walk in the light of love, which are those in whom the fruit of the Spirit shine their irrepressible light, and in whom the light of the gifts of the Spirit operates to overcome and dispel darkness, these are those who Revelation refers to as the bride, the Lamb’s wife. Which are all those who “like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:5). Which is the great city of lights being made ready as a bride adorned for her husband (Revelation 21:2). Which is a living city “having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.” (Revelation‬ ‭21:11‬).

     Which is a city come alive and built with all the living stones who have heard the call: “Wake up, sleeper, and rise from death, and Christ will shine on you.” (Ephesians 5:14). Being a city where the light has not only “become flesh”, but a city that “has no need of sun or moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb” (Revelation 21:23).

     Which is a city where the darkness of “No lion shall be there, Nor shall any ravenous beast go up on it; It shall not be found there. But the redeemed shall walk there.”‭‭(Isaiah‬ ‭35:9‬). Being a city where the ransomed of the LORD shall wear the light of “everlasting joy on their heads. Gladness and joy shall overtake them, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away”‭‭ (Isaiah‬ ‭35:10‬). For does not all darkness flee in the presence of the light? And is sorrow and sighing not a form of darkness? And shall the light of joy not overcome all darkness?

     Which is a city where “there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 22:5). Being the consummation of the pilgrimage of transformation of the Body of Christ into a spiritual house made not of bricks and mortar, but of flesh and bone. Which is when a loud voice shall be heard from heaven saying: “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.” (Revelation‬ ‭21:3‬). Being a dwelling place where men will “be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, And her people a joy.” (Isaiah‬ ‭65:18‬).

Dear LORD our God, may the light of Your joy take full possession of our whole man. Full possession. That the light of Your joy may forever remain in us, and that our joy may be complete. That we may rejoice with a joy unspeakable and a joy full of glory. That we may all be part of that light on the high hill of God that shall never be hidden.