In the sermon on the mount, Jesus proclaimed, “You are the light of the world.” It’s so easy to understand, that the smallest child can grasp the teaching. Hide it under a bushel? No! I’m gonna let it shine! But, what else does this analogy in Matthew 5 teach us?
Lamps illuminate nothing on their own. They need fuel. Their wicks need tending. Someone must provide the flame. Without daily care, these vessels cannot serve their purpose. To become the light of the world, we must be tended and filled daily, so that we can reflect the light and glory of God.
A lamp without oil, without fire, is just a decoration.
You Are the Light of the World
The scriptures contain a wealth of imagery surrounding the idea of light. Jesus is the light of the world, and giver of the light of life (John 8:12). You are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14-16). Jehovah is our light and salvation (Psalm 27:1).
Creation begins with God establishing a light to fill the void (Genesis 1:3). And, the word of God, itself, is described as both a light and a lamp (Psalm 119:105). God is called the Father of lights (James 1:17).
The light of God is unchanging. He is entirely self-contained and does not require any fuel. But, we are different. Our nature is changing. Our minds are not like his. A city does not appear on a hill. It must be built. Likewise, Lamps cannot burn without first being filled and lit.
Charles Spurgeon observed that the oil of grace must fill our lamps. Mankind has attempted in various ways to create grace for and from ourselves. But, lamps cannot fill themselves. And, there is only one type of grace that will suffice for those who follow Jesus.
Jesus calls us to demonstrate His love to the world around us. But, our light does not radiate from within us. Isaiah 60 reveals the dynamic. You are the light of the world, but only insofar as the world can see the glory of God upon you.
‘Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising ‘ Isaiah 60:1-3 ESV
Light and Darkness
Our perception of light is inherently dualistic. The existence of light implies the existence of its absence or opposite. And, the scriptures align with this. We know that the darkness exists, because we live in a world which prefers to stay in the dark. The light reveals the dark.
Light and the darkness in the scriptures almost always carry the connotation of good and evil. How could they not, when the scriptures ascribe light to God? So, we should consider the existence of and our relationship to the darkness, when assessing our purpose as reflections of God’s glory.
Ephesians highlights our relationship to the darkness, as former inhabitants and workers of it. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 shows our history with sin. Ephesians 2:1-10 leaves no room for doubt that grace, and not works, brought us into the light. We did not earn it.
Yet, because God called us out of darkness and into his marvelous light, we should walk accordingly. Ephesians explains our role as children of the light. We bear fruit to please God. And, we expose the darkness. We must be doers of the word, and not hearers only.
How is the light of God shining through you, today?