In Sunday school they taught us that we were all little lamps that God had created to light up the world. At six and seven I couldn’t imagine what they were talking about. The concept that a lamp was inside of me and that God had put it there to shine was beyond my reasoning ability.
Years later I heard it again. Let your light shine! By then I had an idea of what it meant but was at a loss to do any shining, of any significance, that is. Was it merely a matter of smiling at everyone, even strangers? If it was, I had a problem with that. I wasn’t about to smile at strange men. They might think that I was flirting with them! No. That was not going to happen.
I have known and understood the concept now for a long time. I don’t think I have ever done it, unless it happened without my knowledge. Maybe a blip in time, perhaps when my inner joy was bursting out of me and shone on the outside so brightly that it would light up the room. I have certainly had such moments, but is that what God is referring to? What if the joy was due to my passion for Him?
Matthew 5:14-16 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Oh -so that’s what He meant! It’s not that you are aglow due to inner joy. It’s that you are following God and being charitable to others. This brings attention to the good works and shines a light on them for others to see. It not only brings glory to God but encourages others to do the same, His ultimate goal.
You can’t walk around with a sign that says “I’m a Christian” and then behave badly. This tells others that you are a hypocrite. Unfortunately, there are many people who avoid Christianity because their experience with so-called “Christians” is one of hypocrisy and deception. Those people are Christians in name only.
When you become a Christian, it is incumbent upon you to act like one. Follow God, live in obedience to Him, show non-believers what it means to walk the talk.
The world is filled with dark spots – poverty, pain, neglect, evil. Be a light that shines in the darkness. Do you think that you are such an insignificant being, you couldn’t possibly make a difference? The truth is you absolutely can. A small act of kindness ripples out, just like skipping pebbles across the water. The positive results don’t stop at the recipient.
Step out of your house every day with the intention of being a light for someone else, someone who needs it. Light up the dark. God will surely smile on you. :))