“You are the light of the world.”  – Matthew 5:14

A few days ago, we were in the late evening service when the power went off abruptly.

Suddenly, there was pitch darkness everywhere!

The situation was only saved by the handful people who had a flashlight on their mobile phones; they helped the preacher to conclude the service by lighting up the room.

Light was God’s first creation by His Word after which “He divided the light from the darkness” (see Genesis 1:3-4).

Given that sunlight lasts for only half a day – indeed in some regions the sun appears for a few hours only – man invented artificial light to enable human activities to continue indoors and during the dark hours of the day.

Over the millennia, artificial light, in its different forms, emerged to become a fundamental part of academic, social and economic life.

If all artificial light sources were to go off, the global economy would virtually grind to a standstill.

“You are the light of the world,” says our Lord Jesus in today’s meditation.

He added, “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.” (verse 15)

In a latter chapter (Matthew 25:1-12), Jesus used the example of lamps to illustrate the importance of keeping our light shining.

The lamps of the “foolish bride-maids” went out when they ran out of oil, but the “wise” ones kept some extra oil to keep their lights burning through the night.

“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good deeds and moral excellence, and [recognize and honor and] glorify your Father who is in heaven,” Jesus added in Matthew 5:16 (AMP).

“So that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish in the midst of a [morally] crooked and [spiritually] perverted generation, among whom you are seen as bright lights [beacons shining out clearly] in the world [of darkness].

In a crooked world that is increasing becoming devoid of any shame, this is a challenge for God’s people to demonstrate Christ-like character in daily life.

It’s never easy but by God’s grace we must do everything to live with integrity and moral excellence.

To what extent are you engaging in serving the community and exemplifying good works?

To what extent are you supporting charitable causes?

Are we fair in our treatment of others? Are willing to forgive or we’re bitter and vindictive?

To what extent are we exemplars of perseverance, patience, excellence and integrity at the workplace?

Philippians 2:15 sums it up so well (AMP): “So that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish in the midst of a [morally] crooked and [spiritually] perverted generation, among whom you are seen as bright lights [beacons shining out clearly] in the world [of darkness].

Regardless of the darkness around us, letting our light shine means living an authentic Christian life that naturally demonstrates God’s transformative power through good works and righteous living – basically demonstrating the Gospel and ultimately leading others to glorify God.

Amen