1 JOHN 1:5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
A lot has been said a bout darkness and light...just what exactly is darkness? And how do I keep my light shining? We sing a song at the nursing home that most of you are familiar with...this little light of mine....but are we, as christians, letting our light shine for the world to see? Or are we "hiding it under a bushel" like the song says. We sure don’t want to let satan "whoose" (blow) it out! He sure does try to, doesn’t he? But I want to look at this more closely with respeect as to our everyday walk and how well our lights may be projecting to those around us, especially to our unsaved loved ones that really need to see our light.
Let’s look in MAT 5:14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Here we see that those who have Jesus are the light of the world...and you can’t hide the light even if you wanted to. People can just see Jesus in you...if you are indeed in right fellowship with Him. You can’t hide it! People know. They ask "what’s wrong with with sister so-and-so? She’s always happy!" and that really irritates miserable people, did you know that? Grumpy people want everyone else to be grumpy. Misery loves company, and they can’t stand to see the light whenever they’re in darkness.
Listen, I’m preaching to christians here, too! Some christians think they must present themselves as martyrs or something all the time. "Oh, I’m just feeling so bad....I guess if the Lord’s will, He’ll heal me". Do you really think that it’s the Lord’s will for you to be defeated and mealy mouthed for Him? What kind of light is that? What kind of light are you projecting to others when all you do is complain? What are you speaking into exsistence by your spoken word or proclaimation? Lord, deliver us from those that would steal our victory and extinguish our light. Look in Really, don’t cover up your light...or your brothers light....by a defeatist attitude.
No one will be able to see your light if all you do is gripe and complain! Plus, you are covering up your own light..and if you cover up your light, it makes it hard to see the way, doesn’t it? Have you guys ever been way out in the country hunting or camping out and tried to follow a path in that total darkness out there? It’s almost impossible with a flashlight or lantern to see the path, and if you have a flashlight with you in the dark, how crazy would it be to try to stumble your way along the path instead of turning on your light? Yet that’s exactly what some christians do...they don’t let their lights shine.
VS 15Neither 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. So according to this text, you should not only use your light to help you stay on the path, but to let others see the path. Hold it up so all can see! Do you do that? Or do you keep your light turned off whenever you leave this church? The Bible also says in VS 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. You have a responsibility not only to God and yourself, but to all others around you. Let your light shine!
How can I do that, Pastor? Look in MAT 6:22"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. 23But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! I tell you, there are some christians that need spiritual bi-focals. Is this just talking about your physical eyes here? Well, it’s true that we need to keep our eyes clean. If you are a commited christian, you don’t look at things that would put your light out. Things like porn....you say, oh, Pastor...I wouldn’t ever look at something like that"...but then you go pay your money for movies rated R that slander the name of your saviour and show all kinds of unclean behaviour. You might even watch soap operas on TV that are full of trashy behaviour. Listen, your eye is the lamp of your body! If you’re watching trash, you’re extinguishing your light. Period. Whatsoever things are good, wholesome...noble. Think on these things!
Also, though, it IS talking about your spiritual eyes. If the truth is made manifest in you and clear to you...you understand God’s Word and live it.....then you will be full of light. On the other hand, if your spiritual eyes are bad...your whole body will be in darkness! "What do you mean by that?" This means simply that you need to read your Bible. Who has Jesus been talking to here? Sinners? Pageans? He was addressing His followers! You have to know the deeper things of God to get that light burning. To do that, you must seek Him and read His Word. All truth and knowledge is found in this Bible! That’s the fuel for your lamp! The Bible says so in PSALMS 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. It’s also the way to let your light show thru to others. We spend a lot of time praying for our unsaved loved ones, and we should. But think of how much good you could do for that person you love if they could only see your light shining before men!
LUKE 11:35See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. 36Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shines on you." See to it! Make sure your light is well cared for and useable. And that light will shine in every part of your body and your life. Our text says just like you were standing underneath a great light that was flipped on....completely in the light! No darkness!
This is a really short sermon, but I would like to end with this. JOHN 12:46I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. It is your duty to get out of the darkness. I can preach up here until I’m blue in the face, but it is your responsibility to read and understand the Word. I emplore you...read your Bible...pray...let your light shine brightly. If you truly do love those you are praying for, you will do this for their sake as well as yours.
I want to finish that text in JOHN...12:47"As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. 48There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. Listen, you can’t keep His words if you don’t know what they are. Jesus speaks very frankly here about knowing His Words and keeping them. I urge all of us...make sure you know the Word and your light shines brightly...lest those very words that Jesus spoke condemn you on that last day.
