“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you” (Isaiah 60:1).

We will experience both positive and negative things during our time here on earth. When facing difficulties, we could let both resignation and self-pity come in and dominate our choices and future. A wise man once said“ it is human to fall, from the devil to remain lying down, and divine to arise.” This words holds a lot of truth. The Bible warns us against self-confidence, “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (1 Corinthians 10:12). When we have fallen our enemy will do all he can to keep us from getting back up. But God, in his love and mercy, will help us.“The Lord upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down” (Psalm 145:14).

As long as we are lying down there will be a darkness surrounding us. First when we arise will our light come, and we will experience the glory of the Lord.

“Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you. Then Abram moved his tent, and went and dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to the Lord” (Genesis 13:17-18 NKJV).

In the beginning of Genesis 12 we read that the Lord told Abraham to leave his country, his people and his father’s household, and go to the land that the Lord would give him. Abraham obeyed the Lord, and began this journey in faith. Along the way Abraham settled down, but was then told by the Lord to “Arise, walk in the land..”

Abraham had good results to show for in his walk, but God still had so much more for him to enter into. The Lord wants to teach us not to settle with contentment, because He has more land awaiting us. This land will not be revealed until you arise, and then your light will come. The light is revelation, and it causes you to see where you are and where you should go.

”When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, “Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city”” (Genesis 19:15 NKJV).

Lot, which means a piece or a bit, was a man who lived in compromise. In his youth he walked with Abraham, and was blessed in many areas. Since he was half-hearted, he was so fascinated and dazzled by the life in Sodom that he moved there.

In Sodom they were not involved with sheep and cattle, rather they bought, sold, planted and built (Luke 17:28). To take part in this Lot sold the blessings he had received with Abraham. He met his future wife there, married her and got two daughters. He was a wealthy man, and his family did not lack any material goods. Wealth, however, cannot save anyone. Covetousness and love of the world has led many astray from life in God.

The bible describes Lot as “righteous” (2 Peter 2:7). This verse shows us that he was the only righteous in Sodom. When the judgment came to the city, God’s word came to him and said “Arise, take your wife and two daughters who are here…” This is a serious word. Lot was the only one who could save his wife and two daughters. The Lord says to him: arise from your compromise and stop being half-hearted! Your wife and two daughters will perish if you don’t arise, shine and save them.

“Get up, sanctify the people, and say, ‘Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, because thus says the Lord God of Israel: “There is an accursed thing in your midst, O Israel; you cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the accursed thing from among you”’” (Joshua 7:13 NKJV).

This word came to Joshua after the Israelites had crossed the river Jordan.The great city of Jericho had fallen, and the next city for them to conquer was the small town of Ai, which means house of evil. The Israelites had been told not to take anything they found in Jericho, but Achan still took something of the cursed goods. Then, when Israel attacked Ai, they could not withstand the counterattack, they were beaten and forced to flee. After this loss “Joshua tore his clothes, and fell on his face to the earth before the ark” (Joshua 7:6). He poured out his heart to the Lord, and said that they would be destroyed when their enemies heard about their defeat. God then spoke to Joshua, saying “Stand up, sanctify the people”

As long as there is sin in the camp (the church), you cannot resist your enemies, because without holiness no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14b). You are believing a lie if you think you can live according to your lustful and sinful desires, and still live in victory. God's word tells us to chastise and rebuke when necessary. To turn a blind eye to someone's sin is destructive to the entire camp (church). There was nothing wrong with Joshua’s surrender to living a holy life, but Achan's sin affected him too.

“But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins” - He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” (Mark 2:10-11 NKJV)

This man was unable to go to Jesus in his own strength, because he was paralyzed. He needed someone to carry him, and fortunately someone did. In Mark 2:3 we read that “some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them” These men had agreed to carry him to Jesus. Jesus says “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven” Matthew 18:19.

One of our assignments as believers is to pray for our fellowmen. Some people are so paralyzed, they are incapable of going to Jesus in their own strength, it is then our task to carry them. In the story from Mark 2, it was the faith of those who carried him that delivered his miracle “When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” (Mark 2:5).

Some believers don't seek God themselves, but continuously rely on others to pray for them. These are like the paralytic.When someone has experienced to be set free from paralysis by divine intervention, it is about time to start walking on your own. Jesus says to “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house”. You are not supposed to be dependent on being carried to Jesus for the rest of your life. When you are able to go, go! And when you do, you will get what you seek.

“Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you”” (Mark 10:49). Bartimaeus was a blind man who begged for a living. When he heard that Jesus visited his hometown, he started to shout at him. Many rebuked him, but he shouted even louder: “Son of David, have mercy on me!”(Mark 10:48b). This cry caused Jesus to stop and say “Call him”. Those that minutes earlier had threatened him, now called him and said “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you”.

Jesus stopped because Gods promises finds their “Yes” and “Amen” in Him (2 Corinthians 1:20). Jesus came with grace and mercy, and He came to fulfill all the promises in Scripture. Bartimaeus asked for mercy, and Jesus willingly gave it to him. Notice that when he received mercy from God, he also got favor with other humans, and they started encouraging him.

Arise from all the rejection, contempt, shame and everything else that keeps you down. Jesus' mercy allows you to get up from all the evil you have experienced. Bartimaeus stood up, received his sight and followed Jesus on the road. The change in his life was dramatic. He was a blind beggar who was dependent on people. After he received mercy he got up and became a disciple of Jesus.

“I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you...”” (Luke 15:18 NKJV).

The sixth and last we'll look at is the prodigal son.The parable of the prodigal son is the story of a young man who left home to live in dissoluteness. This life led him to waste all his money. He got into trouble and had to make a living by guarding swine, forced to eat the same food the swines did. He came to his senses and said “I will arise...”

When someone comes around, he will arise from his low position. So it was with the prodigal son, who came to the knowledge of truth. He was better off at home with his father.

Regardless of how low a man has fallen, God’s grace is greater than sin. This grace will be experienced when you confess your sins, and turn away from it. The prodigal son knew he had to confess his sin against both heaven and his father. Because he wanted to make amends, he was given a new start in life, and never returned to the pigpen. When a sinner gets up and confesses his sin he will receive grace and restoration.