HoHum:
An evangelist once said, “When you live in darkness, you not only have no ray of light, you don’t even know where home is. That is the way it is for the majority in the world. Some folks are born, raised, and die in cultures that have never seen their first flashlight of hope. Imagine it! When the truth of that hits me, I find myself a little impatient with Christians who do nothing but shine lights for themselves. They even have what we might call flashlight parties where they just shine the light on each other. Lots of light! Too much light to be hoarded! Jesus says to shine for the world. Shine your light into the darkness; that’s where it is really needed. Spend less time in your own little well-lighted all Christian world and more time there in the darkness!”
WBTU:
Last week we talked about salt and how as Christians we are to preserve this world from rotting away. Salt preserves meat and Christians are to preserve society from decay and deceit.
This morning we are talking about light. Scientifically, chemically, salt is NaCl and called sodium chloride. Light is more difficult to define scientifically. Webster’s Dictionary defines light this way: An electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range including infrared, visible, ultraviolet, and X rays and traveling in a vacuum with a speed of about 186,281 miles (300,000 kilometers) per second; more specifically the part of this range that is visible to the human eye.
Anyway, salt and light can alter their world. So does the Christian! This is probably why Jesus used these common, everyday images to describe His people and the influence we are to have in the world.
Talked last time about salt, this morning going to focus in on light. God has something to say about when, where and how we are to let our light shine for Him.
Thesis: A few truths about This Little Light of Mine
For instances:
The Power of light (Matthew 5:14a)
Light is an amazing thing. Light lacks physical properties but it affects physical objects. Light is a wave of energy that can be seen by the human eye. Let’s look at a few ways light affects our world.
A. Light conquers darkness
If we have the least bit of light, darkness is forced to flee. We can be in the darkest place imaginable and just a tiny match, when lit, has the power to drive away darkness.
The same is true in the spiritual world. “In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:4, 5, RSV.
B. Light changes deadness
The ancient Greeks, in their mythology, told of a goddess who visited earth unseen but whose presence was always known by the blessings she left behind in her pathway. Trees burned by forest fires sprouted new leaves, and flowers sprang up in her footprints. As she passed a stagnant pool its water became fresh, and parched fields turned green as she walked through them. Hills and valleys blossomed with new life and beauty wherever she went. Mostly this myth is explaining the beauty of spring time after the deadness of winter. We know that spring breaks forth because God designed it to do so.
In the same way the light of the gospel of grace brought life into our dead souls. “the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”” Matthew 4:16, NIV.
As we let our lights shine in our dead world we can see similar things happen. God uses the light of our witness and testimony to illuminate the dead sinner’s heart and to draw them to Jesus for salvation. Our light, which is Jesus’ light being reflected by us, is a means of bringing the life of Heaven to the dead ones on earth.
C. Light conditions dreariness
How many times have we seen the days of gloomy, dreary weather suddenly be replaced with the gleaming light of the sun? (Happened this week) We have seen dreary days transformed by the appearance of light.
Jesus Christ can brighten any dreary day. “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you... ” Psalms 42:5, 6, NIV.
Also the light coming from the people of God can brighten me. There may be a chill in my soul, but a few minutes around a brother of sister who is shining with the light of Jesus, can cause the chill to thaw, and can help me to be a little warmer!
The Places of this light (Matthew 5:14b-15)
A. There is the light of an institution
Jesus refers to “city set on a hill.” A city is a collection of many lights. The cities in that day were often constructed out of white limestone. The sun rises and reflects off that city. Some cities could be seen for miles in the day time. Unable to be hidden!
This image of a city on a hill, speaks of us letting our lights shine as a community of faith. This speaks of the influence of the church in the world around us. Unable to be hidden!
B. There is the light of an individual
Next, Jesus speaks of a lamp. The lamps of that day were clay containers filled with olive oil in which was placed a piece of twisted flax to serve as a wick. Since most houses were windowless, an oil lamp was necessary for anyone to be able to see. But, no one lit a lamp and then hid it under a bowl. This would be foolish!
This is talking about the power of the individual Christian’s witness. Just as a church has a testimony so does every individual. Jesus saves us to be a light for him. As He shines His light through us, those around us who are in darkness are helped to see their way to God.
Some think that they have done their duty to be a light by going to church. We come to church we are being equipped to go out there and be a light. When we step out the back doors after church, we are entering the mission field! We are to go out from this place into a dark, dead and dreary world and tell them about a Savior who loves them and will save them if they will come to Him by faith. “He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” Mark 16:15, 16, NIV.
Notice that Jesus spoke of some people who hid their lamp under a bowl. People hide their light under all kinds of bowls (bushels in KJV). Let’s mention a few:
Bowl of fear-
A young man became a Christian. The next summer he went to the lumber camp to work. His preacher became concerned about him because he knew it would be difficult to be a Christian in the lumber camp. So after the summer was over and the young man returned home, the preacher said to him, “Son, I want you to know that I was praying for you while you were working this summer at the lumber camp. I know they can be hard men and I prayed that they wouldn’t make it too hard on you.” The young man replied, “Oh no, preacher, I didn’t have it hard at the lumber camp. You know, preacher, none of them ever found out I was a Christian.”
“Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” 1 Peter 3:14, 15, NIV.
Bowl of apathy- Apathy and indifference on the part of Christians certainly obstructs effective evangelism. The causes of such conditions are many, such as spiritual immaturity, tangled up in sin, a lack of biblical understanding and a lack of a sense of urgency. This life determines so much of eternity. ““He (rich man) answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’” Luke 16:27, 28, NIV.
““No-one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.” Luke 8:16, NIV. “Puts it under a bed” is added here. The bowl or more correctly the bushel speaks of the world of labor, the bed speaks of the world of leisure. Jesus seems to be saying that some people are too busy to let their lights shine and others are too lazy. Bowls of laziness and business.
The Purpose of light (Matthew 5:16)
It is a witness to the lost- When lost people see the light of Jesus shining through the lives of Christians, they take notice. Now we all have works but Jesus here mentions “good deeds”. What are good deeds? Good deeds are things motivated by love, carried out in the power of the HS, and performed for the glory of God. In other words, good deeds are works produced in us and through us by Jesus Christ. As I yield to Jesus and He lives His life through me, I prove to the world that my faith is real. “But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.” James 2:18, NIV.
It is a witness to the Lord- There is no greater witness than a Christian reflecting the light of the Lord Jesus Christ. As a lost world sees the difference Jesus makes in His children God is honored and glorified. A light exists to draw attention to the things it illuminates; our light should not illuminate us. Our testimony is about a great God who loves us and saves us when we deserve condemnation! Sometimes people look at what we do and say, “Man, what a great Christian!” No! We want them to see us and say, “They must serve a great God! I’d like to know Him too!”
“Jesus- “I am the light of the world.” John 8:12, NIV. Talk about how Jesus is the light and then we are the lights
