One of the most overlooked ingredients of any movie or theater production is the lighting. However, the lighting is key in establishing mood. Good lighting designers can not only make an audience feel whatever they want them to feel (fear, love, sympathy, anger) but can also influence how they feel about the character.
There are reports that one highly acclaimed actress was extremely demanding on both the lighting director and the cameraman to make sure she was always portrayed favorably: soft lighting and angles that would not reveal her double chin and other flaws.
We may scoff at such vanity, but some of us do the very same thing. We work hard not to put ourselves in situations that might throw light on our flaws, hypocrisy, or sins. We carefully manipulate situations so that we are seen favorably. The problem is we do not have total control of our “outside lighting,” and as most of us can attest, eventually we are found out.
The Bible has much to say about light, and what is most interesting is that none (or very little) has to do with outside lighting. In fact, the outside (the world) is most often portrayed as darkness. The true light comes from within. And that light source is Jesus Christ himself. Look at the following progression.
“Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness.” (Luke 11:34-35)
“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” (John 8:12)
“Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” (John 12:36)
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)
If we really want to portray ourselves in the best possible light, then there is only one way. Let the light of Christ shine from within.
There are reports that one highly acclaimed actress was extremely demanding on both the lighting director and the cameraman to make sure she was always portrayed favorably: soft lighting and angles that would not reveal her double chin and other flaws.
We may scoff at such vanity, but some of us do the very same thing. We work hard not to put ourselves in situations that might throw light on our flaws, hypocrisy, or sins. We carefully manipulate situations so that we are seen favorably. The problem is we do not have total control of our “outside lighting,” and as most of us can attest, eventually we are found out.
The Bible has much to say about light, and what is most interesting is that none (or very little) has to do with outside lighting. In fact, the outside (the world) is most often portrayed as darkness. The true light comes from within. And that light source is Jesus Christ himself. Look at the following progression.
“Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness.” (Luke 11:34-35)
“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” (John 8:12)
“Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” (John 12:36)
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)
If we really want to portray ourselves in the best possible light, then there is only one way. Let the light of Christ shine from within.
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