“One-A-Week Challenge” – Week 37

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

Matthew 5:14 esv

There is something scary about the darkness. Parents know far too well what it means to go and look under the bed, in the closets, and behind the doors for their little ones. We assure those precious gifts of the Lord that nothing is there to “get them” and that we’ll leave the night light on in the hall bathroom just to make sure.

I believe there is no place darker in all the world than is India. I remember flying on an internal flight between cities in that country and realizing just what darkness was all about. No street lights, no car lights, no house lights, just darkness.

An old story is told of an India woman who walked home one night and was stalked by a panther. She carried a lantern and thus walked in a circle of light and was safe. She said the panther won’t attack you while you are in the light. As long as you are in the light you are safe from all attacks. Remember, always stay in the light.

Matthew 5:14 is a powerful affirmation from Jesus to his disciples, and thus to all believers. He does not say that his disciples will become the light of the world, rather he states that we ARE the light of the world. In John 8:12 Jesus makes this statement about himself, and thus as He is the light, we are most importantly reflectors of His light that resides in us.

As the sun is the physical light of the world, so Jesus (through us) is the spiritual light. As the sun makes objects visible and shows their true nature, beauty, and even deformities, so Christ shines His light on all people and reveals to them all that God intends, requires, expects, and demands of them.

The Light of the World shows us our true sinful condition and God’s solution for our condition through the substitutionary death of Christ on the cross, his visible resurrection from the dead, and His complete victory over death, hell, and the grave. Once we have heard, seen, and received The Light, we are empowered with everything we need to face the realities of life.

It is good to remember that light does at least three things:

1. Light removes darkness. The light can never be overcome by the darkness. The smallest light in a dark place always chases the darkness away. In all of life we are challenged by the darkness of an evil and wicked world. I trust we will learn daily the advantage of walking in the Light of God’s word.

2. Light reveals danger. I spend a great deal of time in Africa and have learned by experience that a flashlight is a very valuable part of my equipment. Too numerous are the times when an unknown danger was revealed and avoided because of the little flashlight. In the same way our physical, spiritual, and emotional lives are protected by the Light of God’s word.

3. Light restores direction. It is easy for us to lose our way in moments of darkness, but the Light of God’s word will always point us back to the path.  I do not know what you are going through today, but I know that Jesus always shows you the way.