Shine vs Shiny

 The other day I was driving to the grocery store and the route takes me by an elementary school. The school is off the main highway through town and next to the road is a fenced-in playground. On this fence, the school uses plastic cups to spell out words that form encouragement. For the past few weeks their makeshift sign has been the same and I really wanted to take a picture. The first problem is that there is always a lot of traffic on the road. And second, I didn't really feel like being questioned by the Police for taking shady pictures of a playground outside an elementary school. So bear with me! The past few weeks, the fence has read "RES... IT'S TIME TO SHINE." Picture that in plastic red cups and you'll save me from the slammer.
RES stands for the name of the school, but if I felt like vandalism and had enough cups I would change that to "Christians." Christians have forgotten how to shine in the world. We know the secret to eternal life, we hold the key to victory over death, we get to personally know the Creator of the universe, but we mope around and look just as miserable as all those who don't share in our wonderful knowledge. No wonder people don't want to be Christians.
 Now let me pause right here and clear something up. I almost didn't write this post because I think it's overdone and often misunderstood. A lot of Christians and non-Christians alike think Christians are always supposed to be happy, shiny people. I would disagree. Christians are supposed to be joyful throughout their circumstances, yes, but I would argue that is different from being the world's understanding of happy. I am sure throughout your life you've met those people who are always happy, happy, happy. And rarely when you see their happiness does it ever seem real. It seems like a fake bubbliness so that others will think their life is perfect when they're struggling like everyone else. This is not the kind of shine I'm talking about. I would call this person shiny. They give off an air of polish but they're rusting inside. 
The Bible doesn't expect us to be that type of shiny person. Check out Ecclesiastes 3 and learn that there is a time for everything: "a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance" (3:4). So Christians everywhere, take a deep breath and relax. You can feel emotions. You can have bad days. You can cry when you feel like crying. Doesn't that feel good?
The difference between shining and being shiny is not throwing a fake mask so no one will see your struggle. To shine is to take your problems and requests to God. And when you do that, he offers a "peace that transcends all understanding" (Philippians 4:7). It is because of this peace that Christians are able to truly shine. Because in the midst of any circumstance, they know that God has never left them nor forsaken them. Christians can roll with the punches life throws because they have a lasting hope and an eternal glory. My favorite verses in the Bible (ones that I will probably quote again and again if you read consistently) talk of this hope. 

"Therefore we do not lost heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving in us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). 

You see, Christians should take joy knowing that this world isn't all there is to offer. One bad day, week, month or year doesn't seem so bad in the light of eternity, does it? So rather than dwelling on the issues and problems of the world, fix your eyes on the author of life and light. When you look to him, when you remember that this life is the short one, you will gain a peace and hope you have never known. You will begin to shine. There will be no need to fake happiness because you will have a joy that is rooted in the knowledge that you are loved and cherished by the God of all creation.
 Jesus said, 

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither does a man light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, he puts it on a stand and it gives light to everyone inside the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see you good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16).

Don't be shiny and fake. There is certainly a time for all things, but in all things, look to the promises of God and truly shine. Shine because Jesus called you to it. Shine because you have peace and hope. Shine because, in light of all He's done for you, you can't help it.