Do You Glow In The Dark?

d. And here’s where we get down to the heart of what Jesus is saying in our text.

i. As this struggle continues you are called to shine your light into an atmosphere of darkness, Jesus clearly states our mission when he says …..

Vs 14. "You are the light of the world.

*** When I was in Samoa I visited the home of the famous author Robert Louis Stevenson who was buried on a mountain overlooking the capital of Apia. One night in Scotland where he grew up, just b/4 young Robert got into bed he was peering out through the window of his upstairs bedroom. He was watching a man out in the street who was lighting the gas street lamps for the evening. As he peered intently out through his window his mother asked him “Robert, what are you doing?” He said to his mother “I’m watching the man outside poking holes in the darkness!”

To the Young Louis Stevenson it seemed to him that the man lighting the gas lamps in the darkened streets was poking holes in the darkness.

ii. The calling of Christians in a sin darkened world is…… poking holes in the darkness!

iii. Ask yourself the question ……… are you glowing in the dark?

iv. Your mission, should you accept it, is to shine & dispel the darkness so that men might see the light of the gospel & be saved.

*** On that same trip, while in Samoa, I was sitting in Apia Airport talking to two men. The conversation swung around to churches & as I listened the regular accusations brought against churches were all tabled. I sat in silence nodding with a smile w/ one of those understanding nods. I was about to say something & then one of the men was called to his flight – bummer! But the other victim was on my flight so he couldn’t escape!!! Finally the tirade on churches wound down & the man asked me what I did for a job. I answered – I’m a preacher! The red faced man feeling somewhat foolish was now in a position where he had to afford me the opportunity of telling the other side of the story. I began by saying that I understood his ignorance but I didn’t agree w/ it. I then spent about the next 30 minutes glowing all over him as I opened his eyes to the wonderful truth of how he could have a personal relationship w/ Jesus Christ.

B. What happens to you when you are in the darkness?

a. Most of us are very adept at shining while we are in the light!

i. Sunday morning service isn’t the best place / time to check how brightly God’s people shine.

** Wm Barclay once said “Jesus did not say you are the light of the church, he said, you are the light of the world.”

ii. The real test for how well we shine in the darkness…… is when we’re in the darkness.

Vs 14-15. "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. {15} "Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

iii. The trouble w/ some Christians is that instead of shining in the darkness they blend into it!!!