In Matthew 5:14 Jesus tells His disciples that they are the light of the world, and then goes on to say that “a city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.” When hundreds of lights are seen twinkling on a hill, it imparts a sense of awe, and the above Scripture is brought to mind. Since therefore, Christ told His followers that they are the “light of the world”, they must, likewise, let their lights shine. Each individual light in the sparkling hill panorama has its part to play in forming the exquisite scene. So each of us, as a small candle, when we are one in spirit and purpose, can lighten all those about us.
Glean, little candle, gleam,
For the darkness, it would seem
Flees when just a ray of light
Shines to make its corner bright.
The first mention of light in the Bible is in Genesis. Genesis 1:2 tells us that “in the beginning the earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.” But — “God said, Let there be light and there was light (Verse 3). Can we imagine what it would be like for a vast world completely enveloped in darkness to be suddenly filled with light? Only the Almighty could have accomplished this great work, but the children of God can, to some extent at least, bring spiritual light into the dark recesses of this evil world.
The sun for life
The sun, of course, God has given to sustain man’s life and all living things on the earth. There would be no life without it. And the moon and stars, although lesser lights, have a prominent place in the divine plan, and were given to guide our paths when the more brilliant sun has gone down.
Let us now take into consideration the matter of spiritual light. Just as natural light disperses darkness, so the darkness in the lives of men vanishes when the spiritual light enters to lighten their hearts and minds. Although we know, of course, who was the great Spiritual Light that came into the world to dispel its abysmal darkness, let the Scripture speak for us regarding the mission He came to perform.
Isa. 9:2. “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.” Christ’s followers of all ages were walking even as others in the grossest darkness and were under the shadow of death until they came to know the Savior, either by association with Him as in times past, or through searching the Word as we do today.
Luke 2:32. “A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.” When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord, it was revealed by the Spirit to Simeon, a just and devout man, that this Child was the Christ who had been so long promised, and he spoke these prophetic and illuminating words. All through the years Christ has indeed been a light to the Israelites and the Gentiles who have accepted Him, and many more will receive Him when He comes to earth again.
John 8:12. ” . . . I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” Jesus has not yet become the Light of the world in its fullest sense. But the light shone in the profound darkness of His day, as it has shone ever since, and it would penetrate the farthest corners of the earth if the darkness did not hate the light. Christ’s followers, however, as mentioned in the text above quoted, have received the promise that they shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life. What is the light of life? It is the heavenly light that completely obliterates the darkness of sin and suffering, no matter how ominous they may seem, if we allow it to stream through the shadows into our troubled lives. It is the one thing worth while in this “vale of tears”, that will never depart if we allow it to take entire possession of us.
John 1:4. “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” In Him was life. So, to a certain extent is life in Christ’s brethren, although they are pilgrims and strangers in this unhappy world. If faithful, they daily let their lights shine, even through dense clouds of suffering and sorrow, for they realize that “underneath are the everlasting arms”, and that they have been appointed Christ’s ambassadors until He comes.
John 8:12 tells us practically the same thing. ” . . . I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
How to obtain light
Now, since Jesus is not with us today as He was with the early disciples, how are we to obtain this light of life ? “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple” (Psa. 119:130). His words must enter into us. How can this be accomplished ? By the study of God’s Word. The Scripture tells us that we need not be wise in order to understand His message to us How then can it become a part of us ? By study, and by prayer that the light may be revealed to us as we study God has promised that if we do this, we shall obtain sufficient understanding to know and to do His will We shall walk in the light, and the world will see the light, whether or not they heed it “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5 16).
“Ye have also a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts” (2nd Peter 1 19) There it is again The Word brings the light, and the Scripture tells us that it will stay with us until the day dawns and the day star arises in our hearts What day? The day that we shall be made immortal and become priests and kings with Christ in His kingdom The day star will then indeed arise in our hearts.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psa 119 105) If we are walking along an obscure path with a lantern for our guide, we can see only one step at a time, but that is all we need to see, if we take this one step at a time we will arrive safely at our destination The light of God’s Word will not be revealed to us all at once, but as we study each day we shall climb one more step toward knowledge, and we will be that much farther on the path that Jesus bids us follow.
Our responsibility to light
Now that we have at least a portion of this spiritual light, what is our responsibility? Will we put it under a bushel, or will we lift it high so that all who will may see? ” Now are ye light in the Lord walk as children of light” (Eph 5 8) Our lives must be examples to others in every detail, as our words and actions are closely watched by the children of darkness who would like to put out the light.
‘The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day’ (Prov 4 18) How long are we to let our light shine? Unto the perfect day, and it must Shine more and more until that day Every day we should be that much nearer to the Lord Where must we let our light shine? In our homes, places of business, at the meetings, in every walk of life, yes, even in our thoughts Again let us ask ourselves, are we holding the light high, or do we put it under a bushel ? If we put it under a bushel it may be taken away from us, and given to others more worthy to receive it.
Remember, that Jesus spoke of His followers as the light of the world So, if our lights fail to shine, the world will be dark indeed We must give out the Word, as did Noah, who preached one hundred and twenty years with apparently no one to heed except his family But he had done as he was commanded to do, he had warned the sinners, and his responsibility had ended there So, if, as in the case of Noah, only a few respond to our efforts to let our lights shine, we must not become discouraged, for others may some day reap the harvest that we have sown.
Are we preaching the Word in season and out of season to all with whom we come in contact, especially the sick, the blind, the suffering, the needy and the poor? If we are not endeavoring to help them now, we may never have the opportunity to do so in the glorious future, as the privilege will be given to others who have been more faithful ” Thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things enter thou into the joy of thy Lord” (Matthew 25 21).
Let us, therefore, in these last terrible days ‘walk in the light as He is in the light’ (1 John 1 7), and shine forth into the darkness as does the city that is built upon a hill for all to see.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One