In the Darkroom – Week 4
By Margaret Lackey, Concord, North Carolina

(Ordained Minister, Evangelist, Christian Comedian, Executive Assistant to Administrative Bishop, WNC Church of God State Office)

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19, 20, NKJV).

My forte is taking pictures and enjoying the memories they bring.  I know little about a darkroom.  Through the years, I have taken film to be developed or sent it off to have pictures mailed back to me.  Photo technology has come a long way.  I’ve progressed from my first little Kodak camera, to instamatics, throw-away cameras, 35mm Nikons to my present digital Canon Rebel.

Along with photos came negatives.  Somewhere in a darkroom, somebody took negatives from my roll of film and changed them into positive photos.  I know enough about a darkroom to know that whoever is developing prints takes great care in getting the best finished product possible.  They zoom and crop and eliminate as many flaws as possible.

Unlike a roll of negative film to be sent out for developing, digital photography now provides the opportunity to go to a local kiosk, slip in a flash card, edit, zoom and crop and select photos.  I spend hours, trying to get them as close to perfect as I can.  Blurred or dark photos are deleted.  Every day with Jesus is a brand new start.  If we mess up, we can ask Him to edit our life.  Not only does He delete bad negatives, He throws them into the sea of forgetfulness, never to remember them against us again.

We’re in the darkroom, as it were, as life on this earth is filled with darkness.  “He’s Still Working on Me,” one of my favorite children’s songs says:

“There really ought to be a sign upon my heart, ‘Don’t judge me yet, there’s an unfinished part.’  I’ll be perfect just according to His plan, fashioned by the Master’s loving hand.  He’s still working on me to make me what I ought to be.”

In the midst of the darkness of this world, He is developing us as women of God, His daughters, making us into something beautiful.  The world takes notice because those who are being fashioned in His likeness and image stand out from the rest.  We are commissioned to be the light of the world, to shine in this dark place.  Psalm 112:4:  “Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man (woman)” (NIV).

One day God will decide that it’s time for the fulfillment of our purpose here.  He will bring us out of the darkroom into His glorious light.  All along He has been developing “negatives” from our life that we’ve been storing in heaven.

If someone is going to take a picture of me, I straighten my hair or clothes (striving for picture perfect).  But then I’ll have a lop-sided grin, a forced pose, a hair out of place, or a double chin that’s way too obvious.  No chance for perfect till God calls me from the darkroom.

When I stand before Him facing eternity, I will hold that pose for it will be my last one.  Photographs and memories have been stored in the album of my life.  His review of those Kodak Moments will be crucial for me.  When He has brought me from the darkroom into His glorious light and reviewed the album labeled Margaret Lackey, what I long to hear Him say is, “Well done…I see a portrait of grace!”

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