"You should just kill it, lady."
The lady ignored the teenager who offered his advice.
"Those things carry rabies," the teenager added.
The lady continued bending over the tiny gray-black creature.
"It must have fallen from under the bridge, poor thing. It doesn't look hurt, only stunned," the lady said to the people who were gathering around. "Does anyone have a paper sack?"
Another woman took a blouse she had just purchased out of its bag and handed the bag to the lady. The lady scooped the bat up in her gloved hand and gently placed it in the bag.
"Thanks," she said. "I think it is only stunned by the sunlight. I'll keep it in the bag until it gets dark out tonight and then I'll let it go in the park."
"Hope you get it home okay," the woman said. The two rescuers exchanged smiles and went on their ways, as did the people who had been watching.
Later that night the bat was released. It flew off into the darkness. What the lady said was right-the bat was not injured, but only stunned by the bright light of sunshine.
The Light Hurts The light of God's Word, the Bible, stuns us when we are not familiar with it. It clearly shows us that we are sinners. Romans 3:23 tells us that "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." And as sinners, we can do nothing right towards God, no matter what we do or how hard we try. The light of Isa. 64:6 shows us why: "We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses [good deeds] are as filthy rags." As a result, our sins are leading us to the darkness of hell. The light shows us a very frightening picture of ourselves-the truth that each of us is a sinner and headed the wrong direction!
But the light of God's Word also shows us that there is a remedy for sin. "The Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world" (1 John 4:14). The remedy for sin is to believe in Christ as your Lord and Savior. The suffering for sin He bore on Calvary's cross is more than enough to put away every one of your sins.
Don't run away from the light. It may hurt at first when you see yourself ruined by sin, but God loves you, and He has provided the remedy for sin. He offers salvation in Jesus Christ. "The Lord is not... willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).
Are you willing to step out of the darkness of your sins and step into the light of God's wonderful love and forgiveness? "I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" (John 8:12).
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