The Power of Light - Part 1

Matthew 5:14 You are the light of the world, a city on a hill cannot be hidden.

Eph 5:8 For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.

Light...
What would you do without light? It is hard to imagine in an age that has an average of 40 light sockets in a house. Just in the city of Littleton there are thousands of street lights! We live in an age that doesn't experience darkness very often. Go to a dark corner of your basement with no windows, shut off every light and imagine life with no light-forever. Pretty intimidating thought, isn't it?

And then we see Jesus call his followers the "light of the world"... What a statement!
Jesus' followers, in a world filled with spiritual darkness, are light. They illuminate good things that come from God. They illuminate His grace, His mercy, His forgiveness...they illuminate Salvation that comes from Christ.

I live on the edge of town. About a 1 minute drive from my house and I am out of street lights and garage lights. However, when I turn toward the city there is a glow. I can see the light shine from the city and it illuminates things even far out in the countryside. Though not bright and shining like the sun, the glow of the city illumines the countryside.

We who are in Christ are like a city on a hill that shines into the darkness. Without the city, the countryside stays dark. Without the light shining into it, the world will stay in darkness-forever.
YOU, are the LIGHT OF THE WORLD! If you follow Jesus, that is your identity. That is quite the identity! I wonder if I embrace that kind of identity very often. I wonder if I actually trust that statement. I mean, in some corner of my brain, I am sure do. But do I trust that statement in my heart? Does my heart trust that what Jesus says about his followers is true? Am I really the light of the world?

The reality we see from Scripture is this:
- The darkness cannot hide the light we shine (Matt 5:14)
- Being the light takes intentional action on my behalf (Eph 5:8)

Brothers and Sisters, let's embrace this identity. Let us together shine brightly for the glory of Christ and His great salvation!