You Are the Light of the World!
Matthew 5:14-16 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. (15) Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. (16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
After declaring that his followers were the ‘Salt of the Earth’, Jesus puts an exclamation point on the influence that Christians ought to project by also declaring that “You Are the Light of the World! The Bible speaks often about the concept and contrast of Light vrs Darkness and this passage from the Sermon on the Mount uses this analogy to speak to our effect on the world around us.
1. You Are the Light of the World
When I read this passage, I can’t help but think of the imagery of a coastal lighthouse. These lighthouse serves a very important function: to warn sailors about impending dangers ahead and so they can alter their course to prevent collision with the rocky shores along the coast line. This, in many ways, so accurately describes a Christian’s mission in the world. We as Christians should serve as a warning to those around about us to the eternal danger that is before them if they do not change their current course. Sin, evil and the absence of God is described in the Bible as Darkness (Ephesians 6:12, Colossians 1:13, 1Thessalonians 5:4-5, 1Peter 2:9, 2Peter 2:4, 1John 1:5). Therefore our lives, attitudes, actions, lifestyles, behaviors, reactions, judgements and overall demeanor should be the counter to the darkness of the world.
After stating the fact that we are to be the light of the world, Jesus makes redundant statements about the need to remain shining at all times. It does not do a sailor one bit of good to have a lighthouse on a dangerous coast line if the light itself burns out.
Jesus’ first statement in this regard states: “A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid”. While we should take this like a command, it is not given as a command. Instead it is presented as an obvious fact. If you are a traveler and there is a city ahead of you that is at a higher elevation, that city will be obvious from quite a distance. Its ambient light and higher elevation, even from a great distance, will serve as a beacon to guide you to that location. As christians, we should be that noticeable… by our nature of being different from the world. By our nature of being Christ like.
The second statement is given much more like a command: “Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel”. If we have this gift, this blessing given by the Grace of God, we should be proud to show it off. To Declare it! To let it shine so all can see!
2. Our Purpose is to Shine Before Men
I have heard many people talk about being “closet” Christians. Their perception that it is personal, just between them and God. But Jesus says just the opposite. Jesus whole purpose for declaring that we are the “Light of the World” is for the purpose of making it seen by men. The implication is that we should let our light shine so that “men” in darkness can see it! And like that traveler, they can be guided to God and Jesus by following the light that we project.
3. See Our Good Works
Jesus is very specific about how we are to project our light that other men in darkness can see it. Through our “Good Works”. Works in religion often get a bad wrap. No, we cannot be saved by our works, but that does not mean that “works” are insignificant in the life of a Christian. The works here really is just an outward manifestation of the heart that is being directed by God. The works here can be compared to what the Bible talks about “fruit”(John 15:8). Fruit, in one respect, is identifying characteristic that demonstrates what kind of tree it is. If you see a tree with an apple on it…We know that it is an apple tree. Works are the same. When men in darkness sees a manifestation of the life of a faithful Christian, it should and will attract attention.
4. Glorify the Father in Heaven
The purpose of the works that Jesus talks about is not to bring glory to ourselves. Instead, our works should glorify God. When I was a child, it was very common to drive at night and see the rays from a giant spotlight darting across the sky. During that time, businesses would rent these giant spot lights to shine in the night to advertise a sale or some other event that the business was having. The goal for the business was to shine the light and peak the curiosity of the people driving around so much that they would follow the light back to the source. The the light itself was not the end goal. The end goal was for those people to find the business that was shining the light. We are to act like those giant spotlights. When people see our good works, that we are performing on behalf of our benevolent Father, they will be attracted to the light that we project. If we perform this function properly, they ultimately should not find us, but instead find God.
Matthew 5:14-16 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. (15) Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. (16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Reflecting the SON,
Dennis Hogan
Questions, comments or further explanation? Contact me at: dennis.hogan@icloud.com
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