Seeing the Fireworks
14. You are the light of the world. A city that sits on a hill cannot be hid.
15. Neither do people light a candle and put it under a basket, but on a candlestick; and it gives light to all that are in the house.
16. Let your light so shine before people, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in Heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16
The Fireworks Appeal
Don’t you love those holiday celebrations where they serve lots of food and in the evening, you can watch a fireworks display? We celebrate many of our national holidays with the sound of firecrackers and fizzlers whizzing through the air. It brings a sparkle to the eyes of youngsters and a smile to those who are older and have seen it before but are always happy to see it again. It is amazing how bright lights bring such joy!
When we think of the Christian life, most of us think of it either as some small light shining in the dark or as a tiny candle in a room. The light that Jesus describes was one of sparkle and great appeal. He even compared the impact of the light as a ‘city set upon a hill.’ In other words, you will not miss it and when you see it, it will be a great delight. Yet when we think about how Christians actually represent the light; the pizazz is just not there. The light of the Christian is dismal at best and flickering in the winds of adversity. How do we get our excitement back? How do we draw people to the light that is shining through our lives?
As we delve into this passage, we will find that Jesus was providing a job description for the believer. Rather than reflect faith through ceremony, Jesus’ followers reflect faith through character and action. The crowd that heard His words had never understood how God viewed them. Now they were receiving first hand God’s plan for them in a world filled with chaos and confusion. Jesus said, “You are light.” Not just any light – Jesus followers are the light of God that is sent into the world to fill it with brilliance. Christ followers are “God’s fireworks.” When we fizzle and sparkle, we draw people to Christ.
We use the term “I see fireworks” to describe many things. When someone falls in love, people say, “they saw fireworks.” When people get upset over something, they say “I see fireworks.” When people get together and there is great company with people we love, we often think of that as “fireworks.” Isn’t it strange, that the folks that term is supposed to describe is really anything but fireworks. When the Church comes together for prayer, “Where are the fireworks?” When the preacher preaches, do the people see fireworks? What about when the choir sings or when people start giving? Is there any excitement and joy when God’s people get together?
In rural areas, carnivals and amusement shows rarely came through town except when the County Fair was held. It was usually in the Fall of the year around harvest time when farmers had some extra money. There was lots of entertainment, but the grand finale was always the fireworks display. As the show was ending for the evening, there would be pyrotechnic displays with rockets, sparkles, and loud booms. Everyone would applaud with the show was over and would stand in line the next night for the same show to start again. Now that’s fireworks! While we probably don’t need the rockets bursting or the booms to fill people’s ears, God’s children do need to light a fire under their testimony. God’s people do need some sparkles in their conversation. God’s people do need to have some brilliant display that their life is shining with the glory of God. When God’s people “get the light right” some things will start to happen in the world. When God’s people “get the light right” it will start a chain reaction of praise that will reach Heaven. When God’s people “get the light right” it will attract people to something greater than ourselves. It will attract people to the Living God.
It’s Time to Get the Light Right!
So, how do we get the light right? Jesus gave a straight forward answer that does not require a lot of complicated definition. He simply said, Let your light so shine before people, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in Heaven. Getting the light right is to simply acknowledge that you have a light. God gave it to you. It is already inside you and it is already lit. Just let it shine, better yet pay attention to the things that can hide your light. Stop covering up the light. In ancient times, the poor class of people would use bushel baskets for lampstands. When Jesus used the illustration, he pointed to the absurdity of placing the light under the bushel rather than on top of it. What does that say about our character? Are there times that we would not want our light to shine so that people can see us? Someone might think that Jesus is talking about transparency. The issue is not transparency but transformation. Transparency allows people to see what is really in us, and quite frankly, we don’t want people to see bad things in us. Jesus is not talking about transparency. He is talking about transformation. That is when people see the work that God is doing in us. Only God can make us light. We are darkness, but when we are exposed to the Light of God, we become light. We become God’s fireworks.
This introduces another concept, not only is transformation, but it is also transcendent light. The fact that the Light came from God, means it must have a God purpose that reveals God. Transcendent Light is both inspirational and informational. It tells about God while at the same time is inspiring to people that need God. The religious artist would try to capture that transcendence by painting a halo over the heads of people they considered godly. Most of the pre-Renaissance art shows these lights over the heads of believers with a somber look on their face to attempt to show piety. Well, the fireworks of God doesn’t quite look that way. It has more to do with how we act, our character, our demeanor, and our disposition towards people. As a matter of fact, Jesus tells us to Let your light so shine before people, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in Heaven, following the Beatitudes. These Beatitudes are all about the character of God’s people and how blessed they are when they are poor in spirit, mourning, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, and rejoicing in times of tribulation. That’s what God is looking for in the believer’s fireworks.
Why does God enjoy fireworks?
God enjoys His fireworks in His people. First and foremost, our God spoke to the darkness and said, “Let there be light.” That is us. That is the child of God shining in their place of service to honor the Living God. Jesus again utters the word “Let.” It is not the word “make” nor is it the word “try.” If our relationship is right with God, the light is on.
Second, the light is designed to get the attention of those who see it. Jesus said, it is as powerful as a city on a hill. Jerusalem was considered, the city where God placed His Name there. It sat high up on a hill. Anyone approaching the city of Jerusalem would always “go up” as the City was located 2600 feet above sea level. The Christians life does not mean they are better, but they do live above the world and not beneath it. When the light of the Christian is right, we draw people to the Savior because our life is above the clatter and chatter of the world.
Lastly, I believe God delights in our being His fireworks because we share His glory with those who need to see God’s glory. God can certainly reveal His glory in any way He chooses, but it is humbling to think that He would reveal that glory through us. Let your light so shine before people, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in Heaven. Here is where we need to examine our fireworks.
Do we have a fuse? A fuse is used to ignite the good works. While the fuse is not the actual works, it has enough to light the works. I believe, our fuse is our praise and our gratitude towards God. Do we love God enough to speak highly of His kindness? When you do that, you are lighting a fuse. When you lift your hands in worship, you are lighting a fuse. When you sing a song in your heart or out loud, you are lighting a fuse. Once the fuse is lit, it will ignite everything else.
Do we have the substance to explode with good works? A lot of believers are all fuse, then they fizzle out. Praise should ignite us into service. Like a rocket on a launch pad, every time we exit our worship, we should blast off into doing something good for God. There is much work to be done in this world that will keep us busy until Jesus comes. Praying for people is good work. Helping widows is a good work. Doing kind deeds is a good work that glorifies God. Don’t hide your light, use your light for God’s glory. You are His fireworks!
Lastly, do you have a target audience? If you are God’s fireworks, who will be watching when you start revealing God’s glory? What about your family? They have watched you go off for the devil. Now go off for God. Let your life shine for God!