We are the Light of the World

“You are the light of the world. 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 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


We probably all sang the children's song, "This Little Light of Mine."  Too bad we give that up as we grow older!  It's a great song for any age.


You know what gets me about this verse?  It's that Jesus says we already ARE the light of the world.  Not we should be, not we will be.  We ARE.  The real question is not do you have the light, but what are you going to do with your light?


I love the way the Message phrases it:  "Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven."  

When we are nervous or scared to talk to others about Christ, I think we need to realize - before we've ever said a word, those around us already know how we feel about God.  It's apparent in the way we handle stress.  How we celebrate the good things in life.  How we prioritize life's responsibilities and blessings.  Those around us know much about the depth of our spiritual life, before we ever say a word.


So often in today's world we talk about being ourselves, being true.  I think when God created each one of us He placed a light inside, a light made to shine openly and brightly, reflecting the Creator to the created.  But for one reason or another, we hide that light under layers.  Those layers may sometimes be sin disguised as defense mechanisms.  We hide behind sarcasm, materialism, carefree attitudes.  We try to be the creator, carefully crafting an image for the world to see.  But that image is false, not who we really are.

He created us to be authentically real.  When we embrace as fact that the One who made the stars made us, with careful planning, precision detail, and exact thought, we embrace who we are.  And that makes us want to shine! 

Dr. Seuss put it pretty well.  "Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You."

So be you.  You were designed to reflect Him, to shine His light.  So shine!  Pour out your life into others, so that they may see God!