Shine

You can either curse the darkness or you can light a candle.  When Jesus came into this world as a babe, He brought life and light to a people that lived in a world that was filled with darkness and sin.  Read what it says in God’s Word in Matthew 4:16, “The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.”

Jesus was not only spoke of in the New Testament, but also in the Old Testament as will read Isaiah 9:2, “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.”

John also spoke about Jesus as the light, read John 1:6-9, “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”

Jesus is the true light who shone His light into our hearts, if we are born-again believers, and we are supposed to reflect that light to others by the way we live, through our testimony.  For, just like John the Baptist we are not the light but we are witnesses to that light, which is our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.  Jesus spoke about the light, read Matthew 5:14-16, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

When a city is lit up at night on a hill, can it be hidden?  No, it shines forth its lights and everyone around that looks at that city can see it because of its lights.  That’s the way we should reflect God’s light that we have in us.  How can we do that?  We do that by being a living, walking Bible.  I have heard this said, I would rather see a sermon than hear one anytime. There is a lot of truth to that statement.  When we as God’s children demonstrate the life of Christ we are letting our light shine.  If you think about it, darkness is always there where there is no light, but when the light enters, the darkness has to flee, but it is always there to darken our word as soon as the light goes out or our light grows dim because we allow sin in our lives.  

When we disobey God, our light gets dim and if we continue in our sin we have very little light to shine forth in a lost world that is full of darkness that needs to see the light.  We have nothing to offer people if we constantly live in sin but when we repent of our sins and turn away from them and confess them to the Lord, He is faithful to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, praise the Lord!  Read 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”    

If you find yourself in this condition, please repent and ask the Lord to forgive you, then go and let your light shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your heavenly Father.  Something to think about, may you have a super day and may the good Lord bless you and yours!!