Shine On!

“…let your light shine before others…”

Matthew 5:16

Michigan Winter is officially over, and Spring is making a valiant effort to establish its presence, but it is spotty at best…a little Spring here and there with frequent doses of Winter’s leftovers. But on a recent morning, Spring got the upper hand and Winter was nowhere to be seen. Glorious sunshine spilled through the French doors warming the house and filling our home with its golden blaze. The sun poured through the window over the front door spilling through the entry hallway and into the family room. Beautiful.

My euphoria was short-lived. As I gazed around my sun-kissed home, the sun spotlighted every single speck of dust that had settled on the hardwood floor and furniture, a stray hair previously unseen was now highlighted against the darker wooden floor, dust motes floating in the air were screaming “look at me!” and streaked windows that appeared clean against gray skies now reproached me for neglect and a lack of love. From every direction, I stood accused. It was like being in a bizarre, dust-demon-and-dirt-devil kind of horror movie, and I felt like the villain.

I grabbed my trusty Swiffer, furniture polish, glass cleaner, cleaning rags and paper towels and the dust battle of the ages began.

As I cleaned, I reflected on the ability of light to expose things previously unseen. This verse is not a reference to light exposing the ineffectiveness of my housekeeping practices, rather it is a statement of truth:

Light exposes that which darkness hides.

When Jesus, God Incarnate, walked this earth for thirty-three years, He was the living, breathing Light that exposed, rebuked, and extinguished darkness wherever He went. The Apostle John, disciple of Jesus wrote “In Him (Jesus) was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John1:4-5)

Jesus said of Himself, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12) And in John 9:5, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

The Light of the World stepped down into darkness shining a spotlight on the heart of every man, woman, boy and girl that He met. There was no hidden darkness that the light of Jesus did not pierce, whether it was:

• the adulterous past and present of the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:4-42)
• the greedy, thieving heart of the tiny tax collector, Zacchaeus, (Luke 19:1-10)
• the legion of demons that possessed the mad man living among the tombs of Gerasene (Mark 5:1-20),
• the heart of the rich young man who valued his wealth and possessions above his eternal soul (Matthew 19:16-22),  
• the judgmental, hypocritical spirit of the religious leaders and Pharisees who loved their rules and traditions instead of loving God (Matthew 15:1-20, Matthew 23:1-36)

For those, and so many more, who repented and surrendered their hearts to Jesus, they stepped from darkness into His eternal light. In Ephesians 5:8-13, the Apostle Paul reminds the Ephesian believers that “at one time you were darkness” – Notice this: not in darkness, but were darkness. He goes on, “…but you are light in the LORD.” Not that you are in light, you ARE light.

You were darkness but in Christ Jesus, now you are light.

Just as Jesus Christ is the Light of the World, when we become Christ-followers, we don’t just step into the light – we become light.

In Acts 13:47, after being rejected by the Jewish synagogue, Paul and Barnabas boldly proclaim, “For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'”

In this sin-darkened world, we are called to be light to those wandering in the darkness, sharing the message of light, life, hope and eternal salvation to the ends of the world, starting first with those closest to us and working out from there as God gives opportunity.

Are you the Light that God calls you to be?

“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6

Does your life so brightly reflect Jesus that you shine His light wherever you go?

“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 5:16

Are you walking as a Child of Light?

“For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.” 1 Thessalonians 5:5

Are you taking the light of Jesus to those bound in the darkness of sin?

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9

Has your light been dimmed by the darkness of lingering sin in your life?

“Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true) and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.” Ephesians 5:8b-11

“For You are my lamp, O LORD, and my God lightens my darkness.” 2 Samuel 22:29