“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father Who is in Heaven.”
Matthew 5:16
If we don’t do it, who will?
“This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine. This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.”
Even now those lyrics and their catchy tune are playing in your head if you’ve heard and sung this song before. Although primarily used for children—along with appropriate hand gestures (“Hide it under a bushel. No!!”)—they’re still needed to be heard and heeded by everyone who calls himself/herself a follower of Christ.
We know the “light” represents our new life in Christ; yet, in reality, it represents Jesus Himself, Who is “the Light of the world, in Whom there is no darkness whatsoever” (Jn. 8:12; 9:5; I Jn. 1:5). And, we also know the devil’s deceit and “darkness of sin cannot overcome this Light” (I Jn. 1:5)—UNLESS we keep it hidden from view by failing or fearing to let His Light shine forth from our cracked, clay pots (II Cor. 4:7).
Again, those who are lost live in spiritual darkness and “their minds are blinded by the god of this world (the devil) lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, Who is the Image of God, should shine unto them” (II Cor. 4:4). That’s why the Apostle Paul said “If our Gospel be hidden, it’s hidden to them that are lost” (v.3).
Therefore, if God’s Light—the Lord Jesus—has “shined in our hearts and given us the light of the knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus” (II Cor. 4:6), then we have a responsibility to let others know. And, we must do everything we can to live holy lives before others lest “the way we’re living keeps them from hearing what we’re saying.”
Or, another way to put it is “They can’t hear what we’re saying because the way we’re saying it”—i.e., our walk and our talk are in contradicting each other: We sing like an angel on Sunday, but act like the devil the rest of the week. Or, as Paul told Timothy, “They have a form of Godliness, but deny the power thereof” (II Tim. 3:5).
Simply put, such lives are a “show” or a sham. . .lacking in authenticity and integrity. . .and those around us can tell a phony a mile away. That’s why they so often keep that distance and more between them and the church building’s doors.
But, oh, dear Pilgrim, in these last days we should be living holy lives before hollow men. We should be so filled with the Holy Spirit’s “unction” (“anointing”—I Jn. 2:20) that our lives are ablaze with God’s Glory and attract others to Christ even as a flame attracts moths in the darkness.
Why not pause right now and ask the Lord Jesus to help you be that type shining light He wants you to be? Then, ask Him to lead you to someone today who desperately needs Him and give you the courage and love to tell him about a Savior Who can set him free.
By Tom Smith Morning Manna Dated November 12, 2010
