Light it Up
14. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.
15. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house.
16. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16
Popular People Descriptions
People describe themselves in a number of ways. Usually the descriptions are based on status and lifestyle. For the rich, they would probably describe themselves as financial giants. For political people, they would use descriptions that relate to their political clout and ability to influence others. Some people would use other descriptions based on popularity or even personality. I have always been fond of listening to the radio. One program on PBS (Public Broadcasting Systems) always sparked my interest. Garrison Keeler and the Prairie Home Companion. Keeler would describe his favorite town of Lake Woebegone in the following way. “All the women are strong, all the men are good looking, and all the children are above average.” That is an interesting way to describe people whether it is true or not. The greater question is this, how does God describe His people? These verses help us understand not only God’s description of His people but also the usefulness of the people of God. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.
Jesus gives the true description of God’s people in His Sermon on the Mount. Our Lord uses both the description of salt and light to demonstrate that God’s people are to bless the world in such a powerful way. The salt is used to preserve and to provide a good taste in the world. The salt is used as a cleansing agent. The light is used to illuminate a world of darkness and to shine forth with the radiance of God. Both of these descriptions are critical to the spiritual walk of the believer and must be applied if we are to bring glory and honor to God’s Name. That being said, let us examine what it means to be as Jesus said, “the light of the world.”
To begin with, light must be “powered” if it is to serve its function of illuminating the surroundings. This points to the fact that no human is capable of self-powering the divine light. God must work in a person’s life for light to be produced, otherwise we are a part of the world’s darkness and destruction. That is why man-made religion will not work in producing light. Light, which generally refers to fire, must have an ample supply of fuel, air, and heat. The heart of the believer must be fueled by God’s Word through the breath of the Holy Spirit who uses faith to produce divine light. God must light up our life if we are to light up the world. As we have learned from the Creation, God said, “let there be light and there was light.” Now the light is in the life of the believer.
Jesus not only declared that the light would be turned on, but He also stated that the light must be placed in the “proper position” to be effective. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden … Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house. This forces the believer to ask two critical questions. First, am I hiding my light? Second, am I in the place where God can shine through me? Hidden lights won’t work. Lights that are not placed in the proper place may shine but their light will not be seen.
Why would Jesus make this statement? The Lord knew the challenges we would face in the world of darkness. There are those in darkness who don’t want the light to be turned on lest it expose their wickedness. There are those who reject the light altogether because they love darkness rather than light. Then there is the tendency of those who bear the light to either be too busy to shine the light or who feel that it is not their responsibility. Please note that Jesus’ Word is not a suggestion, idea, or a concept. The Lord commands us to be light in the world. Notice to emphatic term used to describe God’s people. You are the light of the world. By virtue of the fact that you are in Christ, the light is already on – so light it up by maintaining your position in Christ.
Light Makes the Difference
What impact does supernatural light have on people? There are at least three occasions in Scripture where God has used light to speak directly to people. There was the occasion where God used a “burning bush” to speak to Moses in the desert. Exodus 3:2. That same burning light would be used to fire up Moses in order that he would go into Egypt and deliver the nation of Israel from bondage. God not only gave Moses the light he needed, but God also said to Moses, “I will go with you.” That is the continuous supply that would be needed to keep burning despite the challenges. The Light made the difference.
The light of God shined around the shepherds at Bethlehem. Luke 2:9 tells us that the “Glory of the Lord shined around them.” Those shepherds were so moved by what they saw that they left their sheep on the hillside and went into the town to see the great thing that the Lord had made known to them. Those shepherds used the light that God had revealed to find in the manger the true Light of the World, the Savior. The Scripture goes further to state that when they had seen Him, they made it known the Word that had been told them concerning this Child. They got lit up. They returned glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen as it was told to them. What a description of the Christian life! Are we that lit up with the Love of Jesus?
The third shining of the light occurred with a man by the name of Saul of Tarsus. It was not his original intention to have anything to do with the light. He started on his journey from Jerusalem to Damascus to destroy the Christian movement, but God’s Light got in his way. On the road to Damascus, Jesus appeared to Saul as a light shining from Heaven. Acts 9:3. The Lord could have destroyed Saul with that same light, but instead Jesus converted him. The Lord told him to “get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.” Acts 9:6. While Saul could not see for a season, his heart saw something different. Jesus was indeed the Messiah to Israel and Savior of the world. From that moment on Saul the persecutor became Paul the preacher. He was lit up because he had seen Jesus. The Light makes all the difference in the world.
Do You See the Light?
In each of those Biblical examples, those who shared the light had to first see the Light for themselves. When a believer comes to an understanding of what God’s Light means in their life they will get the “power” to become light and also get into the proper position to share what was received. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden … Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house. In giving us this insight, Jesus provided us with four principles of His Light that works in the believer’s heart.
First, you can see it. The light shines. The light does not have to force itself, exert itself, nor flaunt its brilliance. It just needs to shine. In the same way, let your light shine… That little word “let” is powerful and yet it is passive. Unlike the word “make” which suggest that the responsibility is exclusively up to the vessel. It is senseless to think that the vessel can produce light, it must simply permit the light to shine from it. The Maker of the light will cause the vessel to light up and stay lit for the duration of its existence. This is God’s work! This is God’s power! This is God’s light. Just shine.
Second, You can follow it. The light moves. As in the case of Moses, he took his light and went into Egypt where the people were in darkness. They needed deliverance so God sent Moses to where the need was. Remember, Jesus said that lights must be in their proper place in order to be effective. Instead they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house. Moses brought the light and used the light to guide Israel out of Egypt into freedom.
This introduces the third principle of Light. You can use it. It is useful. The shepherds took the light that was given to them and used it to guide them to where they found the Baby Jesus. But then Jesus became their true Light and led them out to tell others about what God had shown them. This raises a key question. What are you doing with your Light? Have you seen it? Do you know Him? Then why don’t you tell it?
This introduces the fourth principle of Light: You can share it. This Light is not only transferrable; it is contagious. Once you have seen the Light, it lights up someone else. Hank Williams, Sr. was a well-known country singer as well as a heathen. He drank, he partied, and did what many of us sinners did. But Hank wrote one of the most powerful songs about the Light. I saw the Light was released in September, 1948.
I wandered so aimless, life filled with sin. I wouldn’t let my dear Savior in.
Then Jesus came like a stranger in the night – Praise the Lord, I saw the light.
I saw the light, I saw the light … No more darkness, no more night
Now I’m so happy, no sorrow in sight … Praise the Lord, I saw the light
Just like a blind man I wandered along – Worries and fears I claimed for my own.
Then like the blind man that God gave back his sight.
Praise the Lord, I saw the light.
I saw the light, I saw the light … No more darkness, no more night
Now I’m so happy, no sorrow in sight – Praise the Lord, I saw the light
I was a fool to wander and stray – But straight is the gate, and narrow’s the way
Now I have traded the wrong for the right – Praise the Lord, I saw the light.
If Hank Williams could see the Light, what about you? The only way to take advantage of God’s Light is to believe it, receive it, and then share it.