LIGHT OF THE WORLD

 

“That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world – Philippians 2:15.”

Christ Jesus gave us an example by making it known to us that Hs is the light of the world – “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world – Jn. 9:5.” By Him we can know what is expected of light. Jesus is our perfect example for light. Thereafter, in His sermon on the mount, He taught the disciples to know – “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid – Mat. 5:14.” We may begin to ask the function of light and the purpose it serves. Before we continue, let’s examine one or two points.

We are told that God is light – 1Jn. 1:5. Jesus makes it known to us that He is light. This assertion is valid because we are sure that He is the word of God and God had commanded light to shine out of darkness. With this understanding, Christ also told us that we (the disciples) are the light of the world. In a sense, we are to act as Jesus acted and invariable as God. It means we are in measure as God in this world. More so, we know that “…as He is, so are we in this world – 1Jn. 4:17.” So, it means we are light in this world. The question is what are we expected to do? True, the answer is shine. To shine! Nevertheless, to say we are to shine is an ambiguous term. Therefore, we are to consider Christ Jesus and our Father to know what exactly is expected of us as light.

Among many functions light is to perform, in the text above, we are to consider three: the blamelessness, harmlessness and perfection of light. The dimension of light we are operate must be without blame, harm and must be perfect, that is, without rebuke.

Now, as believers and disciples of Christ Jesus, we are to be without blame. Without blame? Who among men ever walked without blame? If you search the whole of history there is none but one, that is, our Master and Saviour, Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, if behooves us to learn from Him how to be without blame about whom it was written – “…and they hated Him without a cause – Jn. 15:25.” This is the Man whom Pilate said BEHOLD THE MAN and thrice he declared “I find no fault in Him.” Judging from this first point, we are commanded to be like Jesus Christ in this world. How blameless are we as light in this world?

The second point on the purpose light serves is harmlessness. Light is harmless. Let us be sincere with ourselves, who among us is harmless? Who amongst us can wash himself or herself clean off the stain and blemish of this world? Once again, we must approach Christ Jesus. He told us to be wise as serpent and harmless as doves. It is the harmless as dove that we must consider. As we know that the dove symbolises the Holy Spirit. This is to tell us that we need the Holy Spirit to be harmless because about Jesus Christ it is written – “Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously – 1Pet. 2:23.”

Christian, this is a higher calling. It is a task we must lean on the Holy Spirit to help us perform and fulfill this ministry. At our place of work and worship, in the community and everywhere we find ourselves, let our light so shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our Father which is in heaven. Call upon the Lord today and now to be light of the world in deed and in truth in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

SHINING GREETINGS

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