Jesus tells us to follow Him and to be the light of OUR world, a light that can’t be hidden. This is a NOW statement. In the very beginning of the Gospel of John, The apostle and disciple, John, is telling us about Jesus:
John 1:4-5 (TNIV)
4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.Matthew 5:14-16 (TNIV)
14 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
It’s the nature of light–that LIGHT drives back the darkness. When we live up to this challenge of Jesus, we push back the darkness in this world. The stronger our light the greater the amount of darkness we can penetrate.
John 8:12 (TNIV)
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
What Jesus is telling us is that through Him we can depart from the darkness in our life………. and have the light of life. Pretty bold, huh!
So very often, as we follow Jesus, we are like the lights on a runway at the airport. Guiding planes full of people to the safety of the ground. We help keep others from crashing and burning, we help keep others from experiencing the dangers of landing the wrong place.
This is all a call to positive ethical and moral living–it starts with our inner attitudes (remember the Beatitudes?). When we live with the Joy of Jesus in our hearts, we automatically drive back the gloom and doom of our world. As the light of the world we demonstrate that when struggles come we can find hope and help.
Let’s look again at verse 16: “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
What are these “good deeds” Jesus is talking about? I believe strongly that Jesus is talking about a few things here: These deeds, or good works, are works of love as well as works of faith. You know, Believing–confessing and teaching the truths that we find here in the Scriptures. The truths that we find in Jesus are works or deeds of faith, works and deeds that Jesus is talking about.
They give evidence of what God, the Holy Spirit, indeed Jesus, is doing in our lives. People see this and it glorifies God. Again, these good deeds or good works are works of love: Practical, visible deeds of compassion towards others, ethical and moral living. When people see our love for others, our compassion, our “mercy” (grace in action), God is glorified.
God is glorified because this compassion and love that we show to God and for others embodies the Good News of Jesus love in our lives and this world–the love that we proclaim. When we allow God to work through us we become “Runway Lights” to others around us……guiding people to the safety of a relationship with Jesus…..indeed, a relationship with God Himself!
My friend, Matt Clark (REV MC) says, “Be the Blessing”. I would like to share with you that when you decide to “Be the blessing”…..you are the Runway Lights of this world! May YOUR life shine and guide others to the saving love of a relationship with Jesus!