I grew up on a farm in western Oklahoma and TV reception was poor. To change channels we would need to go out and turn the antenna. This was done by grabbing hold of the pipe wrench we had on it and moving the antenna in the direction of the station we wanted. Then we would go back inside and adjust the TV. This usually took several attempts and worked much better with two people. At one point our Black and White TV had gotten old and the picture tube grew weak which meant I kept turning up the brightness control. Eventually the tube grew so weak that with the brightness control turned all the way up the picture was still blank. For about a year we just had sound with no picture before the TV was finally repaired.

In the early 60s some neighbors of ours bought the first color TV in the community and they invited my family down to view this new innovation. It was amazing the difference to see it in color as compared to the B&W that I had watched for so long. Even now I much prefer color to B&W and prefer even colorized films to the B&W version.

Sometimes as a child of God we move from living in color to living in Black and White. Others have never lived in color (The abundant life.) because they have never invited Jesus into their lives. In this Black and White kind of world every thing is drab and dreary, life has lost its excitement, lost its vividness, the realness and we just sort of go through the motions. That was a problem even in OT times (Isaiah 50:10ab). In this drab and dreary world there is no longer any light - you adjust the brightness control but it doesn’t get any brighter. What’s wrong? As a Christian, where does our light come from?

The Bible tells us in John 8:12 that Jesus is our light, He is the Light of the World. What does it say about those who follow Him? “he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” As the Bible says back in Isaiah, you may fear the Lord, meaning you respect Him, you reverence Him and you may be somewhat obedient. But are you really following Him? Do you have your eyes upon Jesus through out the day, practicing/realizing His presence in your life. What do you think about all day long? Do any thoughts about the Lord Jesus ever cross your mind?

The Bible says in Romans 13:14, “...do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” The first part of that verse in Romans says this, “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ....” Are you so clothed in Jesus that you are conscious of His presence? (Read Romans 8:5-6) When our minds are set upon our Lord and His desires the result is life and peace. But the result of having our minds set upon ourselves, upon our sinful nature, our fleshly desires, the result of that is death and death is the ultimate darkness. (Read Hebrews 12:3) Consider Him so that you don’t live in a Black and White dreary kind of world. Place your mind and heart upon Jesus and His desires instead of upon your desires and your life will grow bright from the light of the Lord.

Back in Isaiah chapter 50 there is a remarkable passage of prophecy which accurately describes our Lord Jesus (Isaiah 50:5-7). It’s only after that passage describing our Lord Jesus that we find verse 10 which talks about walking in darkness. What is the solution to darkness that Isaiah gives (Isaiah 50:10c)? God reveals Himself through His names. God is many things to us, here are a few of His names: Bread of Life, Water of Life, Light of the World, Door of the sheep, Good Shepherd, The Way, the Truth, the Life, Provider, The True Vine, Judge, High Priest, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and yet He is still Friend and Brother (Psalm 20:7).

We should practice being conscious of the presence of God in our lives. At first this may be difficult but eventually we will be able to be conscious of God’s presence much of the time and will be praying without ceasing by doing so. How often are you conscious each day of the One who can bring color to your world? The problem many of us have is that instead of focusing on the Lord we focus on ourselves and our problems and try to make our own light (Isaiah 50:11). Isaiah says, “trust in the name of the Lord and stay upon his God.” (And he says in Isaiah 51:1). Are you consciously trusting in the name of the Lord each day? Do you have your mind consciously stayed upon your Lord Jesus? Are you looking unto the rock of your salvation, Jesus Christ?

The Phone rang near 1am in the Winters’ home. Leo Winters, a highly acclaimed Chicago surgeon, awakened with a start. The caller said a young boy had been tragically mangled in a late night accident. Could someone else handle it? Not this time his hands possibly were the only hands in the city, or maybe in the whole region, that were skilled enough to save the boy.

The quickest route to the hospital took the doctor through a bad area. But since time was critical, he decided to take the risk. He almost got through the worst of the neighborhood. Almost. Then, at a stoplight, a man in a gray hat and a dirty flannel shirt jerked open his door.

“I’ve got to have your car!” the man screamed, pulling him from his seat. Winters tried to explain the situation, but the man wouldn’t listen.

The doctor wandered for more than 45 minutes looking for a phone. When the taxi finally got him to the hospital, more than an hour had passed. He burst through the doors and into the nurses station, but the nurse on duty only shook her head. Too late. The boy had died about 30 minutes earlier.

“His dad got here just before he died,” the nurse told him. “He’s in the chapel. Go see him. He is awfully confused. He couldn’t understand why you never came.”

Without explaining, Dr. Winters walked hurriedly down the hall and quietly entered the chapel. At the front knelt the huddled form of a weeping father in a gray hat and dirty flannel shirt. The same man who had stolen Dr. Winters’ car. He tragically had pushed away the only one who could save his son.

Many are pushing away Jesus the only One who can save them. It may be that you haven’t pushed away Jesus as Savior, you have invited Him into your heart. But have you pushed Him away who is the Light of the World, the only One who can add color to your life? Maybe you have been saved and you come to church some and you may even pray and read the Bible some. But for the most part you keep Jesus out here at arms length, never allowing Him to really be the friend, the brother that He wants to be. Isn’t it time you let Him add some color to your life.?