Jump Start # 1365

Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden”

  This week we are looking at several “You are” passages from the New Testament. These verses describe who we are from Heaven’s perspective. We need to be reminded of these things. We can forget. We can forget who we are and in doing so, we forget how we are to conduct ourselves.

Our verse today, found early in the sermon on the mount, identifies another “who we are statement.” Jesus says “You are the light of the world.” The previous verse states, “You are the salt of the earth.”

Now a few thoughts:

First, we notice that Jesus says, “You ARE.” He doesn’t say, “You ought to be,” “You can be if you try,” or, “You will be someday.” No, He says ‘you are.’ When one comes to Christ as a believer, something happens. He changes. He starts following the Savior and his outlook, his attitude, his language, his hope, and especially his behavior changes. Good becomes the norm. His outlook shifts from what he can do to what God will do. He prays. He worships. He becomes helpful. In just doing these things, he has become a light in the world. People notice. His influence rubs off on others. He is a joy to be around. He listens. He stays connected to the Divine. We are because Jesus is. Jesus is the light. Following the light, developing the qualities of character that the light has makes us also become like Jesus.

Revelation’s description of Heaven tells us that there is no need of the sun or the moon because Christ is there. He is the light.

There is no such thing as a “dark” Christian. One may attend church services, but he certainly isn’t following Christ if he is not a light. The light of Christ hasn’t shone upon his heart and soul. This is why Jesus uses the expression, “You ARE.” You can’t follow Christ without it affecting you and changing you.

  Second, light is meant to be seen. Light attracts. Light makes things easier to see. The Psalmist describes God’s word as a light unto our path. We live in a world of man made lights. There are flash lights, head lights, oven lights, refrigerator lights. There are lights in your microwave and lights in the ceiling. There are little bitty lights and great big stadium lights. Miners wear lights on their hardhats. Airplanes are guided by runway lights. Jesus’ illustration of a city upon a hill is very vivid if you have ever flown at night. Looking out the plane window it’s pretty dark all around. Then in a distant are some lights. The plane is approaching a city. As it gets closer and closer the lights fill the sky. In ancient times, a city was built upon a hill for defense reasons and to avoid floods. As a traveler approached, he could see the lights in the distance. This is what we are. Even from a distance, we stand out. Our behavior, our dress, our language, our attitudes are different than others. We are noticed.

Some do not like to stand out. They would rather blend in. Here, in this discussion, it is not possible as a Christian to blend in. The world is dark. The world does not have the quality of light. In John 3, the Lord said that the world hates the light. The Christian who tries to fit into both worlds, the world of Christ and the world of the lost, is most miserable. He has enough guilt to make him realize that he is messing things up. He goes to church services on Sunday and tries to be righteous. On Monday, he’s right with the boys at the office, laughing and telling things that are out of place for a Christian. He may even have a beer with the boys now and then but he can’t go as deep into sin as they are. His conscience won’t allow that. He feels guilty doing some of the things he does, but he wants to fit in and be accepted. Sitting in the church building he feels guilty for not being more righteous. He is so miserable. You can’t live in both worlds.

What this also tells us is that people are watching. Some are watching that you never knew. They watch what you say. They watch how you conduct yourself. They watch you at home. They watch you at work. They watch you in worship. For the one walking with Christ, it’s ok. It doesn’t really bother him. Someone may even ask you a question now and then because they know that you are a religious person. They’ve seen that you are different. You don’t swear. You don’t gossip. You don’t tell the stories of drinking and partying. You volunteer when you don’t have to. You do your job well. You are caring for others. You mention praying for others. These things do not pass by without others noticing. This is what light does, it attracts. It is illustrated so well when a family has someone who is sick or there has been a death. The church family floods the family with cards, calls, food and visits. The funeral home is packed with church members. Those who are not a Christian, are amazed. They are impressed. They’ve never seen anything like that. Often it is said, “No one from our church even came, but there were tons from your church.” Light. It is noticed. It is noticed in dark moments.

Now we also know that light can blind. Going from a dark movie theatre into the bright sunlight, your eyes shut tight. It’s bright. Driving over a hill and the on-coming car has his lights on bright, it blinds you. Being the light does not mean we are offensive on purpose to others. It does not mean that we shine the light into their eyes to blind them. That’s not helpful. That doesn’t do any good. Some are satisfied with the thought, “Well, at least I told him the truth.” That’s not good enough. Destroying someone, crushing their heart is not the intention here. The light was to be a guide. The light was to show, not destroy. Lasers are light. They are used to cut things. Pointed in an eye and a laser will destroy eyesight. Care must be given when using them. The same goes for us being the light. There is never a time to be rude, obnoxious, ‘in your face,’ with someone who differs with you. They may well be that way to you, but you will be different. You will show them Jesus. You will show them compassion. That’s the light.

Third, we influence. That’s what light does. We get up in the middle of the night, if there is no light, no night light, we might walk right into a wall. Several months ago I had a terrible experience. It was a Sunday morning, I was in my office at home going over things. My home office opens to a hallway. A few steps and there is the opening for the basement. Past that is the opening for the living room that leads into the kitchen. I left my office, where the light was nice and bright. Turned down the dark hallway, and thought I had passed the opening to the basement. I was heading to the kitchen. Instead I flipped down the stairway and landed on my back in the basement. Oh, that hurt! When my kids heard about it they were ready to supply our house with “baby gates” or simply put dad in the home. Without light, we think we know where we are going. We can be so wrong.

So, as lights in the world, we influence. We make things better and brighter. As the world gets darker and darker, we stand out more and more and we influence more and more.

You are light. Shine on! People are noticing you. People are watching you. Some wish that they could be you. Others are critical and are looking for you to slip up. Keep shinning. Some will come to you because you seem to have the answers. Some will share personal issues with you. Some want help from you. This is the result of being a light.

Shine on, brothers and sisters!

Roger