LET IT SHINE
"This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine." What light? Let it shine how? Let's see.
The light is Christ.
John 12:46, “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.”
We all start out in the darkness; the sinful nature is darkness. And the darkness is not good. The darkness can be a scary place. Have you ever been somewhere where you literally could not see your hand in front of your face? Where the darkness was so thick you could actually feel it? The dark is a place where bad things often happen. In the darkness we stumble and trip over things. In the darkness an attacker can easily hide and pounce on us.
But, thanks be to God, because he sent Jesus to rescue us from that darkness. Col. 1:13 says that God rescued us from the dominion of darkness. Dominion means power, authority, control; dominance. The darkness had control over us. We needed to be rescued from that. When we were saved we were transported into the kingdom of light.
Bob Woods tells the story of a couple who took their 11 year old son and seven-year-old daughter to Carlsbad Caverns. When the tour reached the deepest point the guide turned off all the lights to dramatize how completely dark it is below the earth's surface. The little girl, suddenly enveloped in deep darkness, was frightened and began to cry. She immediately heard the voice of her big brother saying, "Don't cry. Somebody here knows how to turn on the lights." In a real sense, that's the message of the gospel: light is available in the overwhelming darkness.
Unfortunately, just because it's available, not everybody receives it. There are some who do not see the light of Christ for what it is. Satan has blinded their eyes. 2nd Cor. 4:4, "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."
The word "cannot" doesn't mean it's impossible; otherwise Paul wouldn't have been able to say what he did in verse six, "For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ." So it’s not that they don't have an opportunity to see the light of Jesus; it's that they haven't wanted to see it.
Why don't I want to see it? Fear of exposure. John 3:19-20, "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed."
I don't come into the light because in a warped way, I'm comfortable in the darkness. I'm blind to the fact that the darkness is bad. I'm blind to the fact that I'm on the pathway to destruction. I'm deceived into thinking I'm better off in the dark. I'm not willing to face the discomfort of seeing myself or my situation for what it really is.
Jesus is the light of the world who wants to show me reality. John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Light is good in that it helps us see. When we come to Christ, the Holy Spirit shows us things in the world, in ourselves, in others that we never saw before. In the light of Christ I can see sin for what it really is; in all its ugliness and destruction. In the wisdom of the light, we see more clearly the things that want to take us down. The light helps us to recognize falsehood and deception so we can avoid making costly mistakes.
In the darkness we were vulnerable. But now, with the light of Christ in us we're empowered. Jesus’ light gives us power, insight, and clarity. Without Jesus we'd still be in the darkness.
What does the light do?
a) Light exposes. Light exposes what’s in the darkness. Job 12:22, “He reveals the deep things of the darkness and brings deep shadows into the light.”
Light revealing what’s in the darkness can mean a couple of things. It exposes hidden dangers. In the dark an attacker can wait. If he remains quiet he can pounce when he hears me coming and I'm toast. But if I have the light I can see him and either avoid him or defend against him.
Another aspect of light revealing is that it exposes hidden sins/secrets. We have to be prepared to face what's in the darkness. We can become comfortable with what the darkness hides. It can be scary to face what the light exposes. So in one sense the light is scarier than the dark. But it's better that we face our fears rather than be in denial about what's in the darkness or content to keep it hidden. We are much better off in the light.
b) Light warms. One of the qualities of light is that it can give off heat. If you have a light bulb not only does it give off light but they can get pretty hot too. And who doesn't enjoy sitting around a fire pit on a cool summer's night or in front of the fireplace on a cold winter's night? The fire is inviting for both its soft glow and it's warmth.
We need to be the same way. We need to speak words of comfort and encouragement; we need to speak the kind words that will warm a person's heart. We need to be the light that brightens someone's day. Prov. 12:25, "An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up."
Also, bringing warmth can melt a cold heart. When we share the light of the gospel with someone whose heart has been iced-over by things like tragedy and a hard life we have the opportunity to melt the ice by sharing the light of Christ. We tell them about his love for them and how his love changed our hearts. And if they're willing, they can begin to have that ice melt away to make way for a receptive heart for the gospel.
c) Light brightens. You usually hear people refer to a pregnant woman as glowing. Or you may hear people refer to a specific person saying, 'she lights up the room'. The first statement refers to how a person looks and the second refers to how a person acts (and possibly looks too).
We as Christians need to do both. In shining the light of Christ it should show on our faces as well as our behavior/personality. And it should be ever increasing as we go along. 2nd Cor. 3:16-18, "But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."
When I was in darkness I had a spiritual veil over my face so that I couldn't see. Also, the veil prevented me from being able to shine. But now, after turning to the Lord the veil of blindness is lifted and now, not only can I see the light I am now able to reflect the light. But not only that, the light of Christ within me increases the closer I get to him. As I go through the process of sanctification (becoming more like Christ) more of the darkness leaves and more of the light is revealed shining brighter and brighter as time goes on.
Hide it under a bushel? No!
Matt. 5:14-16, “You are the light of the world. A city 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 men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
How do we put our light under a bowl? Materialism will do it. Last week I talked about overcoming the world and I went to Matt. 6 where Jesus said we cannot serve two masters. He told us to store up treasures in heaven, not on earth. He said in verse 23, "If the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness?" If we have the light of Christ in us and we get caught up in materialism and loving the things of the world then we are putting our light under a bowl.
When we get caught back up in sin we put our light under a bowl. The beginning of Eph. 5 talks about imitating God. It goes on to warn against falling back into sin. Then Paul goes on to say: Eph.5:8-11, "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them."
We who were once in darkness and are now the “light in the Lord” need to “live as children of light” bearing the “fruit of light”. Continuing in the fruitless deeds of darkness will cause our light to “be under a bowl”.
Another reason we hide our light under a bowl is because we're afraid to stand up and fight the darkness. But consider John 1:5, "The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it." One of the ways the Greek word for, “understood” can be translated is overpower or overtake. The Amplified translation for John 1:5, “And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it [put it out or absorbed it or appropriated it, and is unreceptive to it].”
That’s great news because when we feel consumed by spiritual darkness we can know that no matter how heavy and thick the darkness is it’s no match for the light of Christ. “There is not darkness enough in all the world to put out the light of one little candle.”
Jesus wants us to let our light shine. The only way that’s going to happen is if we pattern our life after the light. “Be a moon; reflect the Son.” When we do the work of Christ the light shines. And when the light shine people take notice. But you might be thinking, “How can my little light make a difference in this vastly dark world?”
A Hindu trader in India once asked a missionary, "What do you put on your face to make it shine?" With surprise the man of God answered, "I don’t put anything on it!" His questioner began to lose patience and said emphatically, "Yes, you do!" All of you who believe in Jesus seem to have it. I’ve seen it in the towns of Agra and Surat, and even in the city of Bombay." Suddenly the Christian understood, and his face glowed even more as he said, "Now I know what you mean, and I will tell you the secret. It’s not something we put on from the outside but something that comes from within. It’s the reflection of the light of God in our hearts."
When we let our little light shine it can make the biggest impact. Hide my light? No way; I'm gonna let it shine!
