35 See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. 36 Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shines on you."
Jesus gives us a command here that is well worth our attention (aren’t all of His commands that way???) The wording He uses here prior to stating the command actually means contemplate, give attention to, and focus upon what I am about to say. We are not to let the light within us become spiritually darkened which implies ignorance or error to the Truth of God’s Word. Scripture is full of such admonitions pointing to the importance of knowing and heeding what is written within its pages. This is a wonderful reminder for our day and time as we often let other things crowd out the soaking up of God’s spiritual food. “Men stumble over the truth from time to time, but most pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing happened.” Winston Churchill When we have feasted upon His Word, and our cups are filled to overflowing, the light within us is indeed akin to “a city on a hill” – it simply cannot be hidden. This is a very good thing! I am reminded of Paul’s words in II Timothy:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2 Tim 2:15 (NIV)
We want to be examined and proved genuine; we want to pass the test so to speak. That is what approved means – to be accepted, to be proved real. “Correctly handles” in the above verse actually means to cut or divide skillfully. It is an indication of one who is a correct discerner of God’s Truth. It is also a marvelous advantage over the lies of Satan. “The best protection against Satan’s lies is to know God’s truth.” Anonymous I love what Proverbs has to say concerning this wisdom:1 Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. 2 I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching. 3 When I was a boy in my father's house, still tender, and an only child of my mother, 4 he taught me and said, "Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live. 5 Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them. 6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. 7 Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. 8 Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. 9 She will set a garland of grace on your head and present you with a crown of splendor." Prov 4:1-9 (NIV)
Solomon here is speaking about instruction from his earthly mother and father, David and Bathsheba. Yet, this directly corresponds to God’s command to the Jews in Deuteronomy called the “Shema” meaning “Hear”. This is the basic confession of faith in Judaism given to the Jews by Moses: 4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deut 6:4-9 (NIV)
The command was to love God and that was to pervade every area of their being and their lives. He was to be their life just as Paul tells us in Colossians: 1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Col 3:1-4 (NIV) As believers we are to be bringing heavenly direction to our earthly duties fixing our attention decisively toward things above. I love what the Bible Knowledge Commentary states about these verses: “Paul was saying that life in this world will be better if it is lived by a power beyond this world, the power of the resurrected, ascended, glorified Christ.” I have been told that one can be so heavenly minded that they are of no earthly good. I have come to the realization that quite the opposite is true. We can be no earthly good if we are not heavenly minded. Certainly we can have no eternal impact if our minds are entrenched in the here and now. Our lives are to be the sermon pointing others to our Lord. This is what brings true benefit to others - everything else is just a welfare check; immediate relief yet very little, if any, lasting value. Remember “This world is our passage, not our portion.” Matthew Henry