Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Matthew 5:14 KJV
As I read today's extract, it is very clear that it has a personal touch. These words were part of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus gathered his disciples to Him, sat down and taught them. The crowd listened, but the message was and is still for disciples. If I am to really live out the words of today's extract, I must first sort out my allegiance. Who do I follow? Am I all about the popular movement, public acceptance and audible and visible applause? Or am I first about what my master wants, the One to whom I have totally surrendered to? It matters where you fit, because the rest of the verse rests on my ownership structure.
That statement: 'You are the light of the world' does not leave room for doubt, discussion or dissipation of energy. You are either the light or not at all. There is no halfway house, where you can toy with a little bit of both. This is not a joke: the issue of your identity is a matter of life and death. Being light means I carry in myself something that gives light; in this case, it is someone who is Light Himself. His presence in me reflects in and out of me. It is not a reality that can be hidden or ignored. Men may not say anything but the light is something that cannot be ignored.
Why is this so? It is because that light is a threat to the darkness that the world has and offers. If the light was not a threat, the devil will not be so focused on extinguishing this light in us. The devil knows that as long as that light in us, Jesus, is shining, there is nothing he can do. All the storms, winds and rains that he orchestrates are all tailored to take our eyes off the light and focus them on the situations around us. From the life of Peter, we know how dangerous that can be.
And that light was not meant to be hidden or kept private. Light by its nature is difficult to keep bottled or prevented from shining. No matter how dark a place is, the smallest sliver of light will make a big difference. We all know how powerful and life - changing the smallest reflection of light from the screen of a mobile device can be in the midst of a storm. It can be a little light, or it can be a thousand lights; all that matters to God is that I shine out with His glory. The world is really in need of light and guidance; by itself, it has nothing it can change itself with. This is where I, as light, needs to step in.
The world may not know how to live up to the expectations of the light, but it sure can identify the real deal. A statement like: 'And you call yourself a Christian' makes it clear that the world has a semblance of an idea of what light looks like, even though it does not follow it. It is my responsibility to make sure that God is seen in and through me every day. I will be a false ambassador for Christ if I am promoting an interest or way of life that is against the kingdom I represent. That is grounds for dismissal or recall. So, am I really shining as I should? Is Jesus evident in me? Is His life and light visible and audible in me? Eternity rests on my answers. His time of favour is here.
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