“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 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. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)
It is God’s desire for His children to shine brightly for Him – through the power of the Holy Spirit and for His glory - pointing others to Him because He is the Source of our light as well as our wholeness and completeness. We are to have a holy reliance upon Him - no longer needy, rather filled to the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way. Believers are the light of the world. A light was meant to shine and give direction pointing others to the proper path of goodness, righteousness and love which of course is Jesus.
In every believer there remains both darkness and light yet we are not called to be sinners – even though sin still resides in us. Christians are to be putting to death whatever belongs to our earthly nature through the help of the Holy Spirit’s power. We are not to continue indulging in that which dims our lights and brings forth a poor testimony for the Lord Jesus. Believers are called saints in Scripture because we possess some degree of holiness. We are also called the children of light even though there is still darkness remaining within us. With the light we have received we are to shine brightly pointing others to the Lord Jesus.
Light is also the emblem of pure joy. The joy of the saints in heaven is this: Jesus chose us, Jesus loved us, Jesus bought us, Jesus cleansed us, Jesus robed us, Jesus kept us, and Jesus glorified us. Jesus did it all – all to Him we owe. Heaven is ours because of the finished work of Christ. Light is the cause of His beauty within us. Nothing beautiful remains when the light is gone – only darkness and death.
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:5-7 (NIV)
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6 (NIV)