When We Chase After Light Like A Moth To A Flame

“God is most glorified in me when I am most satisfied in Him.”  –John Piper

Being completely satisfied in Jesus is tough. We live in a world of distractions that constantly pull us away from where we need to be.

I once heard a theory about the reason moths flap around like crazy outside by your porch light, and I was blown away by it. (Have you tried to shield your face and get inside as quickly as possible before the moths get you?) There are various hypotheses as to why they are so “nutso” while flapping around light. One that I find very intriguing is called “Transverse Orientation.” Basically, by them staying in right angle with the moon, they can fly in a straight line. However, with the moon being so far away from them, they get distracted when a much closer artificial light appears. They turn toward the new light and attempt to adjust their flight pattern, which results in them spiraling closer and closer to the new source. The moon, their real light source, is replaced with artificial light.

Who knew we’d have a lot in common with moths? We have a Source that we are supposed to be aligned with — the light, Jesus Christ. As long as we are aligned with Him, satisfied in Him, and looking to Him for our flight path (His will, purpose and plan), we have the right flight pattern, where He is being magnified in us and through us. However, like the moth, when an artificial light that seems bright and tangible gets in our path, we look to it and get off track. The devil who “himself masquerades as an angel of light” (1 Corinthians 11:14) has his “right” flight pattern for us too. He wants to destroy our path to the Source and will throw in every single thing he can to detour us and distract us.

Do you recognize this pattern in your own life?

One moment you are seeking God and so focused on Him, but the next, your gaze is shifted to something else, and you spiral out of control. It might not be sudden, but it is sure. Anything, anyone and any situation that allows a glimmer of hope, a sparkle of fun or a bright opportunity is an attraction for us. We see these things so close, so touchable, while God seems so far away, and we let ourselves detour to them.

We try to be satisfied by things that will never truly satisfy us.

There is only ONE TRUE LIGHT who will never go out. One who will never ever leave you or forsake you.

“That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.” –John 1:9

It is amazing to me that God created us to need Him, to crave His light, to thrive when we are satisfied in Him alone. As long as our eyes are fixed on Him, we are at the right angle to keep flying on the right route that he has planned for us. Yet, so often we allow Satan to get to us with his false lights.

So how do we stop this pattern and stay focused on the right light? Well, what do you do when you can’t see in the middle of the night?

You turn on the light.

You have the electricity so easily available to you, but if you don’t plug in to it, you won’t see the light. So plug into God. Read His Word every day, pray to Him sincerely from your heart, lift your hands in surrender to Him and dwell in His abounding presence and love. Let the TRUE LIGHT SOURCE guide you. Allow Him to shine brighter and brighter in your life, so that when the devil comes at you with his artificial lights, they will be dim in comparison, and your gaze will not even shift.

When you are truly satisfied in God, His glory completely radiates in and through you.

Let’s choose to live like that.