Learning to be the Light

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_Jh911AkcM

The Light of the World

We live in a darkened world, and when God “saves” us He expects us to disseminate light into the darkness - to “learn to be the light”.

You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. Matthew 5:14-16

Jesus said this during His ‘greatest of all time sermon (Sermon on the Mount – Matthew 5) there on that hillside…to the disciples. Now, you’ve never seen a more common group of guys, by the world’s standards, than this group. So ordinary, and very, extremely unimportant, humanly speaking of course. When Jesus said they were the light of the world, it was in spite of the fact that it was the Greeks who were known world-wide for their superior knowledge, architecture, art, and philosophy. Aristotle, Plato and Socrates had already given their teachings centuries before Jesus told this unassuming group of men that THEY were the light of the world!
And Jesus is saying that to all His followers, including us today. It should make us wanna’ lift up our heads and realize what a grand and glorious thing it is to be a Christian and a child of the King and a “light of the world”.

Light is miraculous. It’s almost impossible to define light…it’s a mystery. Webster’s Dictionary will tell you that ‘light is something that makes vision possible.’ Big help, Mr. Webster, Thanks so much!

The Bible says that God is light. Intellectually that means the knowledge of God is light. Morally that means the holiness of God is light. Physically that mean the glory of God is light.

When Jesus says that we are the light of the world, it means God has deposited His nature inside of us (Through the Holy Spirit), and we are to let it out. It’s in there! It just needs to be allowed to shine forth. So we need to be “learning to be the light”.

Christian, you aren’t the only person ever called ‘the light of the world.’ Who else? Yes, other Christians, but who else? Jesus!

12 Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” John 8:12 So, Christ is in us, and we aren’t really, in and of ourselves, the light, but the light is in us! And we need to learn to use it!

That’s further proof that the world is dark today… 5 But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9. Without Him, it’s a dark place, that is, unless He shines thru us! Soooo, we need to learn to be the “LIGHT”!

Now, many people love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil…but many are seeking the truth. Will they see our light, set on a hill?

The only way they will get to know Jesus as the true light of the world is if they see that light reflected by us, and shining in us!

Here’s how it happened. Man started in the light, for God is light, but chose to sin, and plunged himself into darkness. Humanism says the opposite, that man starts in darkness, but is getting better and better, and closer and closer to the light. We know better. Sinful mankind is in darkness, but we are to be the light of the world, showing them the way out.

So, God loves man so much, and wants to help people in darkness to see His light, so He deposited the light in 3 places:

a. The scriptures
Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105

But not everyone will see the light in the Bible.

b. The Savior
Jesus came as the light of the world. But many reject Him. And then He left.

c. The Saints (Believers)
Like fireflies across your yard in the evening, Christians are to shine as the lights in this world. The first Bible some people in your life will ever read will be the Bible of your life. The first sermon they will ever hear will be a sermon in shoes…you!‘

You are writing a gospel, a chapter each day
by the deeds that you do, by the words that you say
men read what you’re writing, whether faithless or true
Hey, what is the gospel according to you?’

Someone once said, "I'd rather see a sermon, than hear one any day.”

The only way they will get to know Jesus as the true light of the world is if they see that light reflected by you, and shining in you!

A lot of us are unwilling to be different, to be the light. We don’t wanna’ be laughed at or thought of as strange…so, we follow the course of the world, and go with the flow, instead of heading upstream … taking a stand. That worldly attitude is a bushel that will snuff out our light.

A pastor warned a young man in his church that was moving away that the company he was joining was very worldly and could be a bad influence on him, and furthermore, they would treat him very badly for being a Christian. Months later he heard just the opposite, that the boy’s experience had been ‘nothing but pleasant.’ The pastor asked, ‘you mean they haven’t persecuted you for being a Christian?’ He replied, ‘Nope! Matter of fact, they haven’t even found out!’

How about it? Have the people in your life even found out you are saved? Work / family / neighbors / friends? Does our life, our talk, our actions reflect the “light” of the Lord? Our desire to ‘blend in’ to our environment can be a basket that is keeping us from “showing the light” to the “world”!

No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. Matthew 5:15