Light!

Light!

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:14‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

What is light? One source defines it as 'the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible'. It is hard to define what the natural agent referred to above is, but light is also referred to as 'a form of electromagnetic radiation, a form of invisble energy'. It is very important to pay attention to this, as even the natural and human process of life cannot fully explain how light came to be. We see its impact all around us, but it is hard to define its origin outside of the One who formed it. How can you define light outside the One who has enabled the eyes to see and perceive things? How can I define the power and effect of light without going back to the One who declared so many centuries ago, at the creation of the earth, that 'Let there be light', and because of His power, light had no choice but to be formed, and to come to existence? This has to be the start of any discussion about light. 

The One who called light into existence is the One whose opinion about impact and influence must be sought. He formed light, and then called Himself the Light of the world. He can do so because all of creation owes its form and existence to Him. It did not end there; this same God then formed man from the dust of the earth, and breathed into man the breath of life, and this formed man became a living soul. God took from the dust, and elevated the product from ordinary to extraordinary, simply by putting in that vessel his power, nature and identity. By itself, dust would remain dust, but in the hands, and under the influence of the Light Himself, dust has now become a reflection of the Light. How can the product of dust then think he can survive outside the One whose input and influence is the reason why he is even alive? How can there be pride in that which you had no input into or control over? 

This is the understanding that underpins the verse above. I am the light of the world, only as I reflect the identity of the One I represent. I am placed here on earth as an ambassador to the Light. I am to reflect my citizenship and identity everywhere I go. By my actions, words, interactions, relationships and reactions, I must understand that I am revealing my identity, and making it clear where my allegiances lie. By my own words and conduct, I am telling the world that I live by different standards, and you can bet that the tests of allegiance will come. Let no man be deceived that allegiance to the Light will be smooth-sailling every day; the devil will raise up storms and floods, as well as winds, just to threaten and capsize my boat, but as long as my gaze is fixed on the light, and I allow Him work in and walk through me, the world will know that I am a representative of the light. May I not be a disgrace to the light I claim to represent. May God be pleased to shine in and through me. God's time of favour is here.