Matthew 5:14-16 (KJV) Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it gives light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Travelling the dark roads at night while crossing the countryside can be dreary. Endless miles stretch before you with nothing to follow except the white line of the highway. Often while travelling I have seen the glow on the horizon shining like a beacon in the darkness. City lights seem to penetrate the night for miles, when placed on a hill those lights can lead the weary pilgrim to their destination and sweet rest.
This is the reference that Jesus makes when He compares Believers to a city that is set on a hill or a lamp in our homes. Lights are not lit to hide under a bowl but to be placed where everyone can see them. The life of a Christian is not to be one of clandestine holiness but is meant to be a beacon leading the lost to Jesus.
There is a song that talks about a little boy who was lost in the city. He doesn’t know his address or even how to get home, but then he remembers the old mission church that is near his house. He remembers that there is a big lighted cross at the top of the mission and cries out “If you can get me to the cross I can get home.” Isn’t that exactly what the world needs, someone to help them find their way. God has given that job to those that are called by His name.
We are to be filled with the light! The Light of the World has beckoned us come and be filled, to overflow with Truth and Life. There are many that are lost and cannot find their way home. They search in the darkness of this world for something to set them free but all that the world has to offer are the thorns and briers that entangle them even more. Frantically they thrash about in the darkness searching, longing, hoping and then they see a light. There is hope as they make their way to the light that is in you. It is Christ in you the hope of glory.
In Christ’s day everyone was familiar with the oil lamps that were needed to give light in the darkness. They knew that those lights had to be maintained. They had to be cleaned because the soot and dirt would cloud the light and make it harder to see. They knew that the oil had to be kept full so the light would burn through the night and they knew that the lamp had to be placed on a lamp stand so that everyone could see the light. No one puts a lamp under a bowl and hides the light. That is not a real light. True light cannot be hidden it must be lifted so that it may draw men. We see this illustrated in the words of Christ,
“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” John 12:32
Jesus held nothing back as He offered Himself up to the cruel cross of Calvary. But in His submission to the will of the Father we are shown the way each of us can offer ourselves as living sacrifices holy and acceptable unto Him. Our reasonable service is to let our light shine for Jesus no matter what the cost.
Showing posts with label darkness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label darkness. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Reflections
Matthew 5:14-16 (KJV) Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it gives light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
“When I think about His goodness and what He’s done for me. When I think about His goodness and how He set me free. It makes me want to shout.”
I couldn’t help but think of the words to that chorus as I read the what Jesus had to say about us. “You are the light of the world!”
Born in sin, shaped in iniquity, surrounded by darkness with nothing to offer anyone and lost in the blackness of my own despair, how could anyone see beauty or worth in me. I couldn’t even save myself, how could I be the light of the world? How could I help anyone find the way? Surely the Master must have gotten this one wrong.
Let me take you to the blackness of our solar system to illustrate what Jesus was saying to those that believe on Him. Genesis records that there was a time when the stars did not shine and “darkness was upon the face of the deep”. I believe that refers to much more than just it being dark over the ocean. Deep in the reaches of space there was no understanding, there was no sun shining upon the planets and the cold darkness of space stifled life. The darkness meant death! There was no active presence of God being manifest. Then God spoke. What did He say?
“Let there be light!”
Don’t let the glory of that moment escape you. In the face of death and vast emptiness God saw what was needed more than anything else and sent light. The Sun began to shine and there was hope. Hope for tomorrow. Hope for a new start. Hope for abundance. In the glory of the light that was shining the darkness was cast off and boundless possibilities were now ready to explode upon the scene. There is no life without light.
There is no revelation without light. As we peer into the darkness of space, we would see nothing if it were not for the light. Staring up into the darkness that surrounds earth we would never see the moon if it were not for the Sun. The moon has no source of light in itself. Its beauty and potential lay dormant and hidden outside of the light that shines upon it. What we see when we look up at the moon is light reflected from the Sun. What our eyes are registering and turning into an image that our minds can fathom is light. The shapes and colors that create the beauty of the celestial beings are all viewed because of the light. Turn off the Sun and everything else vanishes in the still darkness of night. But in the evening when the Sun is hidden by the earth there is a light. It shines in the darkness and allows us to see even if we only see in part. The moon, which has no light of its own, is shining. The Sun is reflecting off the moon and creates a light that shines in the darkness.
Without Jesus there is no light! When He came into this world the light of God’s glory burst forth in glorious praise. He was the light that destroyed death, hell, and the grave. He was the light that endured the cross. He was the light that raised the dead and healed the sick. Jesus, ascended into Heaven, seated at the right hand of the Father, is still the light!
Consider the words of Jesus in John 5:19,
“Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.”
Jesus is teaching us about Light! He came to show us the Father. His earthly life was a reflection of the love, truth, and holiness of the Father. When Jesus walked into a room His purpose was to make the Father known. He was about the Father business and when we saw Jesus we saw the Father. That’s how we become light. Not from any value or power of our own but because Jesus lives in us. His light shines through the darkness of this world and finds a reflector, one that believes on Him and is willing to make Him known. When we live our lives in the light of Christ’s immeasurable glory we are the light!
“When I think about His goodness and what He’s done for me. When I think about His goodness and how He set me free. It makes me want to shout.”
I couldn’t help but think of the words to that chorus as I read the what Jesus had to say about us. “You are the light of the world!”
Born in sin, shaped in iniquity, surrounded by darkness with nothing to offer anyone and lost in the blackness of my own despair, how could anyone see beauty or worth in me. I couldn’t even save myself, how could I be the light of the world? How could I help anyone find the way? Surely the Master must have gotten this one wrong.
Let me take you to the blackness of our solar system to illustrate what Jesus was saying to those that believe on Him. Genesis records that there was a time when the stars did not shine and “darkness was upon the face of the deep”. I believe that refers to much more than just it being dark over the ocean. Deep in the reaches of space there was no understanding, there was no sun shining upon the planets and the cold darkness of space stifled life. The darkness meant death! There was no active presence of God being manifest. Then God spoke. What did He say?
“Let there be light!”
Don’t let the glory of that moment escape you. In the face of death and vast emptiness God saw what was needed more than anything else and sent light. The Sun began to shine and there was hope. Hope for tomorrow. Hope for a new start. Hope for abundance. In the glory of the light that was shining the darkness was cast off and boundless possibilities were now ready to explode upon the scene. There is no life without light.
There is no revelation without light. As we peer into the darkness of space, we would see nothing if it were not for the light. Staring up into the darkness that surrounds earth we would never see the moon if it were not for the Sun. The moon has no source of light in itself. Its beauty and potential lay dormant and hidden outside of the light that shines upon it. What we see when we look up at the moon is light reflected from the Sun. What our eyes are registering and turning into an image that our minds can fathom is light. The shapes and colors that create the beauty of the celestial beings are all viewed because of the light. Turn off the Sun and everything else vanishes in the still darkness of night. But in the evening when the Sun is hidden by the earth there is a light. It shines in the darkness and allows us to see even if we only see in part. The moon, which has no light of its own, is shining. The Sun is reflecting off the moon and creates a light that shines in the darkness.
Without Jesus there is no light! When He came into this world the light of God’s glory burst forth in glorious praise. He was the light that destroyed death, hell, and the grave. He was the light that endured the cross. He was the light that raised the dead and healed the sick. Jesus, ascended into Heaven, seated at the right hand of the Father, is still the light!
Consider the words of Jesus in John 5:19,
“Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.”
Jesus is teaching us about Light! He came to show us the Father. His earthly life was a reflection of the love, truth, and holiness of the Father. When Jesus walked into a room His purpose was to make the Father known. He was about the Father business and when we saw Jesus we saw the Father. That’s how we become light. Not from any value or power of our own but because Jesus lives in us. His light shines through the darkness of this world and finds a reflector, one that believes on Him and is willing to make Him known. When we live our lives in the light of Christ’s immeasurable glory we are the light!
Monday, October 14, 2013
I'm Gonna Let My Little Light Shine
Matthew 5:14-16 (KJV) Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it gives light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
As we explore the pronouncement of Jesus that we are the light of the world it would be good to remember John 8:12
“Then Jesus spoke to them again and said, I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
Jesus was standing in the Temple when He spoke those words but the story of why he was chose that location goes far in explaining what He meant. He was in the Temple on the morning after a night time ceremony called the Illumination of the Temple. On that night in the Temple treasury the people would gather around four massive golden candelabra that were topped with huge torches. It is said that the candelabra were as high as the temple walls and the bowls mounted on them each held sixty-five liters of oil. When night came and darkness covered the temple a priest would climb to the wicks and light them. It is reported that the light that came from these massive oil lamps would light not only the temple but all of Jerusalem. Men would dance before the candelabra with torches in their hands singing songs and praises while countless Levites would play on harps, lyres, cymbals, and trumpets. This elaborate celebration was to commemorate the great pillar of fire that led the people of Israel as they journeyed through the wilderness. Remember that the cloud and the pillar were the glorious presence of God in the midst of the camp.
In the morning with the burned out candelabra at His back Jesus stood and proclaimed, “I am the light of the world!” This was an earth shattering announcement that could not be misunderstood. Jesus was revealing Himself as Messiah! He was the pillar of fire that came between them and the Egyptians at the Red Sea. He was the cloud by day and the pillar by night that lighted the camp and led the way. He was the cloud that filled Solomon’s Temple. He was everything that they longed for, everything they needed, everything that they had been promised. He was the Light of the World, gloriously shining in the darkness.
To know that Jesus is the Light reveals another fact. This world is in darkness. Hanging in the darkness of space there was no light until God said, “Let there be light.” The darkness of this world stifled all hope, all beauty, all life. There was not one ray, not one ember of hope that could fight back the darkness. What a vivid picture that depicts the spiritual darkness of the world that we live in today. Even worse than the spiritual darkness of this world is the fact that men intentionally live in darkness.
John told us “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”
Imagine the tragedy played out every day as people love the darkness that enslaves them so much that they reject the light sent to deliver them. This is far worse than the darkness itself. Forging through the darkness of the night just before dawn is difficult but imagine choosing to live in caves where the light cannot shine and hiding from its warmth, refusing to see. For those who seek the light we can understand the horror of Paul’s statement when he penned
“They have crucified the Lord of Glory!”
It is beyond our wildest imagination that men would try to extinguish the light.
It is in this context that we must try to understand what Jesus tells us when He proclaims that “You are the light of the world.” We cannot be the light unless we dwell in the light and the light dwells in us.
As we explore the pronouncement of Jesus that we are the light of the world it would be good to remember John 8:12
“Then Jesus spoke to them again and said, I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
Jesus was standing in the Temple when He spoke those words but the story of why he was chose that location goes far in explaining what He meant. He was in the Temple on the morning after a night time ceremony called the Illumination of the Temple. On that night in the Temple treasury the people would gather around four massive golden candelabra that were topped with huge torches. It is said that the candelabra were as high as the temple walls and the bowls mounted on them each held sixty-five liters of oil. When night came and darkness covered the temple a priest would climb to the wicks and light them. It is reported that the light that came from these massive oil lamps would light not only the temple but all of Jerusalem. Men would dance before the candelabra with torches in their hands singing songs and praises while countless Levites would play on harps, lyres, cymbals, and trumpets. This elaborate celebration was to commemorate the great pillar of fire that led the people of Israel as they journeyed through the wilderness. Remember that the cloud and the pillar were the glorious presence of God in the midst of the camp.
In the morning with the burned out candelabra at His back Jesus stood and proclaimed, “I am the light of the world!” This was an earth shattering announcement that could not be misunderstood. Jesus was revealing Himself as Messiah! He was the pillar of fire that came between them and the Egyptians at the Red Sea. He was the cloud by day and the pillar by night that lighted the camp and led the way. He was the cloud that filled Solomon’s Temple. He was everything that they longed for, everything they needed, everything that they had been promised. He was the Light of the World, gloriously shining in the darkness.
To know that Jesus is the Light reveals another fact. This world is in darkness. Hanging in the darkness of space there was no light until God said, “Let there be light.” The darkness of this world stifled all hope, all beauty, all life. There was not one ray, not one ember of hope that could fight back the darkness. What a vivid picture that depicts the spiritual darkness of the world that we live in today. Even worse than the spiritual darkness of this world is the fact that men intentionally live in darkness.
John told us “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”
Imagine the tragedy played out every day as people love the darkness that enslaves them so much that they reject the light sent to deliver them. This is far worse than the darkness itself. Forging through the darkness of the night just before dawn is difficult but imagine choosing to live in caves where the light cannot shine and hiding from its warmth, refusing to see. For those who seek the light we can understand the horror of Paul’s statement when he penned
“They have crucified the Lord of Glory!”
It is beyond our wildest imagination that men would try to extinguish the light.
It is in this context that we must try to understand what Jesus tells us when He proclaims that “You are the light of the world.” We cannot be the light unless we dwell in the light and the light dwells in us.
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
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