LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE

LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE

“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” (Matt. 5:14 — 16).

Alexandria, Egypt was one of 17 cities Alexander the Great named after himself. The lighthouse of Alexandria was the first lighthouse in the world. When completed it was the tallest building in the world other than the Great Pyramid of Giza. At the top was a huge fire pit and a curved mirror to reflect the light. When the fire was burning it could be seen from 35 miles away and guided many ships safely into the harbor. Without light, however, the tall tower would have been of little value. The light, however, did not occur automatically. It required much work to carry wood up steep ramps to the top of the tower some 450 feet above sea level.

In the same way it is not by accident that Jesus associated our “light” with “good deeds”.

When Moses climbed the mountain to meet with God his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord (Ex. 34:29). That radiance, however, like the lighthouse fire, was only temporary. Moses had to continually meet with God for the radiance to continue (2 Cor. 3:7 — 18).

If we are to let our light shine continually, we too must continually meet with God!

When the tabernacle was completed and the altar constructed, fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed the burnt offering (Lev. 9:24). It was the responsibility of the priests, however, to never let the fire go out. Note: “The fire must be kept burning upon the altar” (Lev. 6:9). “The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the priest is to add firewood...” (Lev. 6:12). “The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out” (Lev. 6:13).

Since believers are a royal priesthood, we too should not let the fire burn out (1 Pet. 2:9).

God commanded that a seven branched lamp stand be constructed to provide light in the Holy Place (Ex. 25;31 — 40). Every day the priests were to bring clear olive oil to keep the lamps burning. This was a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for generations to come (Ex. 27:20, 21).

If we are to let our light shine continually, we too must continually add oil on a daily basis.

=> “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil” (Jn. 3:19).

=> “For God, Who said ‘Let light to shine out of darkness”, has 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” (2 Cor. 4:6)

=> “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (Eph. 5:8).

=> “You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self

controlled” (I Thess. 5:5, 6).

=> “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light and in him is no darkness” (1 Jn. 1:5). “Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble (1 Jn. 2:10). > “There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever” (Rev.

22:5).

Our purpose in letting our light shine is not to please men, it is to help them. Those who seek to please men cannot be servants of Christ (Gal. 1:10). Since those who walk in darkness are prone to stumble, we must hold the torch and light the way for them, and ultimately pass on the torch for others.

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