When our beloved Lord was here on Earth, He once said to His disciples, “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). In verse 16, He added, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
This commandment was given to the disciples long ago, but it still applies to God’s people today. God commands us, His children, to let our light shine so that the people we come into contact with see Christ live within us and recognize us as His true children. He expects us to be true examples in this world.
In Philippians 1:21, Paul wrote: “Christ is my life.” What an example must Paul have been! Yes, Paul was a man of God and lived in such a way that others had no choice but to see Christ in him. That is exactly what God expects from everyone who professes to follow the Lord.
There are people who have a desire to do something to win somebody for the truth. They do not feel called to preach, and they feel that there is nothing for them to do. But we can still do something for the Lord, however small our place in the body of Christ may be. We can let our light shine through His grace and with His help!
We might think that nobody observes our life and that it does not matter if we sometimes let things slide. It might seem as though we have very little influence in the world, but let us be careful. We, who claim to be children of God, bear a great responsibility, and the world watches us closely. Let us always live according to the Bible. I know of no better or more successful way to win souls for God than to lead a pure and godly life in the eyes of the world.
If we live out God’s great grace, our neighbors will see it. When they see us going through difficult trials without complaint and when they see us patiently enduring whatever may come through true submission to God’s will in all things, they recognize that we are sustained by a power that they do not know. When they hear our pure speech and when they notice how conscientious we are in every regard, they realize that our lives rise above this sinful world. It is in our everyday lives, in the midst of the trials we all encounter, that we proclaim the grace of God and let our lights shine so that others will yearn to have the same experiences we have. I am convinced that our neighbors know if we are really saved.
In Colossians 3:3, we read, “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” If we are not dead to ourselves, if the ego is still alive and pops up now and then, our light cannot shine very brightly. Commonly used in the past, petroleum lamps would eventually begin to smoke and shed only a dim light. But once cleaned and filled up with fuel, they could shine so brightly that the darkness was driven from the room.
The same goes for us. Our hearts must be cleansed with the precious blood of Christ, freed of the ego, and filled with the Holy Spirit. Then, the light of the Gospel will shine from our lives. If Christ rules our hearts, He will reveal Himself.
We are so privileged to be able to live out the Bible before the eyes of the world, leading a pure and spotless life to adorn the doctrine of God. In this life, we can live so virtuously that we make the teachings of the Bible attractive to the people around us. Let us make sure that our lives are spotless and blameless, following God’s will so that our lamps are trimmed and burning. I am convinced that nothing else has greater power to make people receptive to the truth. Nothing will remove prejudice as effectively as the pure, righteous life of a true child of God.
We might feel that we are insignificant, that we lack status, and that nobody notices us. But that is not true! Several precious souls around us might be lost in darkness and yearning for a better life, only to be discouraged by the hypocrisy and fraud that can be found everywhere. However, if our light shines brightly and clearly, they might see it and be drawn to the paths of truth.
Let us take courage and forge ahead! Let us lead a pure, righteous life and let our light shine in the small corner the Lord has assigned us. The Lord will be pleased with us, and on Judgment Day, we will be able to hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:23) May God help us to always walk carefully before Him so that we are never an obstacle to others but rather win people for the precious truth through our lives and actions.
Faith Stewart
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