"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven."-- Matthew 5:16
Are you afraid of the dark? While few will admit it, many people are afraid of the dark. The fear of the dark is more a fear of what might happen in the dark than a fear of darkness itself. We fear the threat of harm that could come when we are helplessly asleep. We fear the unknown and the unseen things that lurk in the "dark side."
Our uneasiness with the things that happen in the dark, explains why we spend untold sums to light our streets, highways, yards and homes. If there is light, there is less chance of being victimized by those that take advantage of the night. It is hard to see in the dark. Movement is restricted in the dark. Fear is increased in the dark. Because of its limiting effect, the darkness provides a convenient stage for the ungodly to move freely and fearlessly.
I was told when Thomas Edison invented the light bulb, it was greeted with great enthusiasm around the world because he promised the world the possibility of throwing back the darkness and filling it with light, shining from millions of little tubes.
I come to tell you there is a light source more powerful than Edison's light bulb! There is a light from heaven that shines eternally and brings hope and encouragement to a world that is groping in despair. This light is Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. He is the light of the world.
As reflectors of his light, we share the great task of illuminating a world shrouded beneath the veil of darkness. We see the light because we see Jesus. Let us live so that others can share the light of the Christian life as it is reflected in our daily living.
Our text focuses on a portion of Jesus' "Sermon on the Mount." After sharing eight beatitudes that cover verses 3-12 of the 5th Chapter of Matthew. Christ illustrates the nature of the Kingdom of Heaven by giving two examples of the nature of the Christian life.
First, he compares the church to the salt of the earth in verse 13 and beginning at verse 14, he tells the church that it is the light of the world. When Christ said the church was the salt of the earth, he suggested that the church was a preserving force in the world. When he said the church was the light of the world, he suggested that it is all that stands between the forces of darkness and the kingdom of heaven. That’s good news!
There is a cloud of darkness that is creeping across the horizon, bringing fear and anxiety to millions. There is darkness on the social order. We live daily with the ever-increasing threat of war. As we watch news of troop movements and arms buildups, our fear of world war increases.
Somebody has turned out the light on an entire area of the substance abuse fight. The fight against marijuana, heroin and cocaine has increased in our nation but somebody has turned off the light with respect to alcohol and cigarettes. It gets hard to see the problem if we turn off the lights.
Friends, there is darkness on the social order. But Jesus says we are the light of the world. But how can we bring light into this social order? Our text verse finds Jesus answering this question pointing to our good works which glorify the father which are in heaven.
When we move in the darkness of the world around us, our works remind men of the will of God. When we act to feed the hungry, we turn on a light for the Lord! When we act to give relief to the suffering, we turn on a light for the Lord! When we act, we improve the human condition.
We turn on a light for the Lord! When we speak a word for justice and fair play, we turn on a light for the Lord! Brothers and sisters. We should let our light shine everywhere we go!
Brothers and sisters, without a light from the Lord, life has no purpose and questions have no answers, problems have no solutions and labor has no reward. Minds have no peace, and hearts have no joy, souls have no assurance, and the word has no value, and love has no meaning and sheep have no shepherd.
But I heard David say in Psalms 27:1, "The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear, the Lord is the strength of my life, whom shall I fear." I encourage you to let it shine, let it shine.
Brothers and sisters, we have established that Jesus is the light of the world. We have established that we are reflectors of that light. But there is a final dimension, and it is that we should not turn off the light that Jesus has given us, but let it shine. Our song should be, "Jesus gave it to me and I'm going to let it shine" and I'm going to let it shine!
You see, our power comes from the Lord, who has all power, who spangled the skies with the sun and moon and lit them with a touch of his finger, who rotates the world on its axis, and holds afloat in the galaxy, who carved out the mighty mountains and spat out the seven seas.
Hear the voice of Jesus in John 8:12, “Then spoke Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."
he Bible says in Jeremiah 10:12-13, “He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion. When he uttered his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures”.
"This little light of mine, I'm going to let it Shine, Shine, Shine!"
May the grace of our Lord and Savior continue to bless and keep you. God bless.
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