Volume 48   Number 2                                                                October 2005

Here is a question we need to ask ourselves: Do we let our light shine? Well, I sure do hope that we can answer ‘yes’, because that’s what God wants us to do I’m sure.

Lets look at this word ‘light.’ The first thing that comes to mind is that we need light to get things done. Material things that we need light for are our houses, church buildings, schools, work places, and so on. We get the power for these things from electricity. Of course everyone knows this, but what I’m building up to is that the power we get to turn the spiritual light on comes from God and His Son. We depend on this light and I think that God depends on us to let our light shine before men. God gives us all the ability to let our light shine, and it is up to each and everyone of us to let it shine. The brighter the better, and we are the ones that make it shine bright or not so bright.

In Genesis 1:3 the Bible says, “Then God said ‘Let there be light’ and there was light.” See? We get everything we have from God! He is so awesome because He even knew we were going to need light. This light that God gives us is in our hearts and souls. In Psalms 27:1 we read, “The Lord is my light and salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?” We need to always keep our lights shining because with the hustle and bustle of today’s world we can get so caught up in daily things that we might forget to let our light shine, something God doesn’t want us to do!

God also knew that we were going to have trouble letting our light shine so He gave us His Son to recharge us so we can let our lights shine brightly. In Matthew 5:14 Jesus says, “You are the light of the world. A city that is on a hill cannot be hidden.” Then in John 8:12, “Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” These two scriptures tell me that Jesus is telling us that we are the light and He is the light. In Matthew 5:15,16, Jesus tells us, “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all that are in the house. Let you light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” This is what we should always do. In John 1:4: “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” These scriptures tell me that if we keep God and Jesus in our everyday life that people will be asking what the light is that we are shining and we can then tell them it is the light of Jesus! Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:8, “For you were once darkness, but now you are the light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” So this tells me that if we walk with the Lord and keep Him in our everyday life we will be in His light. “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in him is no darkness at all.”(1 John 1:5) So let’s keep God in our everyday lives so we don’t have to stumble around in the dark.

I’m going to sum this article up with this Scripture: “The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.” (Revelation 21:23) So if we trust in God and let our lights shine God will be pleased!