Making decisions in the dark can lead to some regrettable consequences. Back in the days before electricity, a tightfisted old farmer was taking his hired man to task for carrying a lighted lantern when he went to call on his best girl. “Why,” he exclaimed, “when I went a-courtin’ I never carried one of them things. I always went in the dark.” “Yes,” the hired man said wryly,” and look what you got!”
Have you ever stubbed your toe while walking through your house in the dark? It is amazing how difficult the simplest things can be when we try doing them in the dark. This is why God said that we must let our light so shine. Light is a great illustration of what a Christian should be in this dark society.
God says in this passage, “Ye are the light of the world…let your light so shine.” In this command there is also an observation. If light is needed, then the world must be a dark place. God sees the need for our light to be shining brightly. The challenging thought is that it is up to us to provide light! God said, “Ye.” That is you and me.
We are to shine like a city on a hill and a candle in a house. We are to be easily identified as a child of God both publically and privately. The fact that we are a Christian should never be a secret. The Bible says in Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ…”
In verse fifteen, of Matthew 5, God challenges us not to put our light under a bushel. There should be no reason why we would hide the fact that we are a Christian. Some Christians don’t want to let their light shine because it might make them unpopular. Remember, to be popular with the world, one must be like the world.
Let’s let our light shine today. Verse sixteen teaches us that the main purpose for shining is to glorify God.
