“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16
Imagine that you’re a kid in a movie theater. The lights go dark, and all that’s visible is the screen. A movie begins to play, but it isn’t a funny or happy one, it’s a scary one. It seems very real too, not like those thrillers that can get you on the edge of your seat even though they’re obviously fantastical. It’s very realistic. That’s maybe what’s so scary about it, that you can’t tell whether it’s a story or if it’s real life. Imagine that the theater is so dark around you that you can’t even tell if there are other people in the room with you, just a terrifying movie and darkness. You could close your eyes, but that’s dark too, and then you can’t see anything that may be going on around you. Then the lights come on. The movie is still playing but the lights are on, and you see the other people around you. You see your family sitting beside you. You can see that the movie was nothing more than that, just a movie. Your fear abates. You feel safe. Why? Because of the light.
You’re the light.
Jesus tells us that we are the light of the world. The world can be a terrifying place, a very dark place. So many people are living in deep darkness, despair, or depression. For some, it’s so intense that they see no way out, no hope, no future. You can be the light that changes all of that. Jesus compares us to an ancient city on a hill for a reason. The world before electricity was very dark at night. No street lamps or neon signs lit the streets. When the sun when down, it was just dark. But a city on a hill, with its lamps and fires for light could be seen from miles and miles away.
The hope that Jesus offers is a bright light. It’s like a lighthouse on a rough sea. It’s a flashlight in a blackout. It’s a beacon to the lost. He empowered us to be that light for Him on earth. He allows us to be his ambassadors for hope in a dark world. Use your light. Rescue someone from the dark, as you once were rescued. It’s the mission that Christ himself gave us, and it’s a promise of the value that he has for us.
You, son or daughter of God, are nothing less than the light of the world and the salt of the earth. Don’t let that go to waste.
Prayer:
Father,
Help me to find those who are living in darkness and to allow your light to shine through me. Let your hope bring light to a dark world, and help me to be a willing instrument of your work.
In Jesus Name,
Amen.
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