You are the Light of the World
Matthew 5:14-16
Light is good. The sun
gives light to warm and brighten the earth. Light can show us the way
out of danger when we are in darkness. Light is essential to life. In
the natural world all living things need light. In the spiritual world
Jesus is the Light that gives life (John 1:4).
Jesus came to earth to
establish His kingdom. A necessary part of that was to prepare men to
continue the work after he was gone. To those who became His disciples
He gave the charge to be the light of the world. They would follow his
example and let their light shine for all to see. This process would
continue until the light of Christianity illuminated the whole world.
Today we continue to be the light of the world.
Jesus
compares His disciples to a city sitting on a hill. Just as the lights
of a city can be seen from miles in all directions, our lights shine for
all to see. We still live in a world in need of light to give
direction. When we live as Christ would have us live our good works are
the light that show the way to the Father.
Lights
are of no use if they are hidden. Lights in a house are put there for
one purpose: to illuminate. As spiritual lights we are to let our
lights shine before men. The gospel is intended for all men, not merely
a select few. It is true that many who are in darkness will not
tolerate the light. Just as in Jesus’ day a great number will turn away
from the light because they prefer to be in darkness. But we are to let
our light shine so that those who will accept the gospel will know the
way to the Father.
Thomas Sneed
Pond Church of Christ
