Light is a curious component in the universe. While human eyesight requires light in order to see, we are not capable of seeing “light” at all. We see objects when light reflects off of them, but the light itself we do not see. In a sunbeam, we see the light bouncing off dust particles in the air. In a rainbow, we see the sunlight refracted by the water vapor in clouds.
The element that illuminates the world around us is invisible to us. Yet because of that light, we live and move in a world of exquisite colors and astounding shapes and forms. Light gives us the ability to recognize the faces of our loved ones and the opportunity to move, to explore, and to discover what else exists in our world and beyond it.
Those without the sense of sight develop their other senses to experience these same wonders, but for now, we are focused on light because that is the illustration Jesus used to describe our mission to the world. Throughout the Bible, light is used to illustrate what a difference truth and love can make in our lives.
One of the most familiar and most-loved of Jesus’ teachings is often called the Sermon on the Mount, or the Sermon by the Sea. The most complete version in Scripture is found in the book of Matthew, and it includes all of chapters 5, 6, and 7. It is in chapter 5 that we find Jesus’ words, “You are the light of the world” (verse 14).
the sermon by the sea
Imagine being there that day as Jesus spoke to the crowd by the Sea of Galilee. Here Jesus spells out most clearly what it means to be His follower in the real world. Here is where we learn how to “live” the mission that He gave us. Here is where the principles of God’s kingdom shine out to brighten a dark world.
One of my favorite book passages is Ellen White’s description of this sermon in her book Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing. The excerpts below comes from my contemporary adaptation of her book, called simply, Blessings.
The only true light that has ever shone or will ever shine on human beings is the light that radiates from Jesus. Jesus is the only Light that can illuminate the darkness of a sinful world. Of Jesus the Bible says, “In him there was life, and that life was the light of all people” (John 1:4, [NCV]).1 By receiving His life, Jesus’ disciples became light bearers also. With the example of Jesus’ life in their hearts and His love showing in their characters, they became the light of the world.
In ourselves, we have no light. Apart from Christ, we are like an unlit candle, like the moon lying within the shadow of the earth. We don’t have a single ray of light to shine into our dark world. But when we turn to Jesus, the Sun of Righteousness, when we come in touch with Him, our souls light up with His brightness.
Jesus’ followers must be more than just a light to the people around them. They are the light of the world. Jesus says to everyone who believes in Him, “You have given yourselves to Me, and I am sending you to the world to represent Me.” As Jesus was sent to represent the Father, so we are sent to represent Jesus. Our Savior is the Source of light, but don’t forget that He shines into the world through human beings. God’s blessings come from human hands. Jesus Himself came to our world as the Son of man. The church, made up of each individual disciple, is the channel heaven uses to reveal God to humanity. Angels are waiting to spread heaven’s light and power through us to those in danger of being lost. And if we fail to do our assigned work? Then, to that degree, the world loses the life-changing influence of the Holy Spirit it might have had.2
light dispels darkness
Jesus didn’t say to the disciples “Try to make your light shine.” He said, “Let it shine.” When Jesus lives in a person’s heart, the light is impossible to hide. The light of His love will shine out. When those who claim to be Christians don’t shine with the light of God’s love, it can be only because they have lost their connection to the Source of that light.
Throughout history, the Spirit of Christ has made God’s true followers the light to the people of their day. Joseph was a light bearer in Egypt. With purity and kindness and brotherly love, he represented Christ in the middle of a culture that worshiped many gods. While the Israelites traveled from Egypt to Canaan, the faithful among them shone like a light, revealing God to the surrounding nations. From Daniel and his friends in Babylon, as well as from Mordecai in Persia, bright beams of light shone out, combating the darkness in the courts of kings.
In the same way, Christ’s disciples today must be light bearers. Through us, the Father’s mercy and goodness are shown to a world darkened by a misunderstanding of God. By seeing our acts of love, others are led to God. Our lives make it clear that there is a praiseworthy God on the throne of the universe, One after whom we can pattern our lives. The glow of divine love in our hearts and the peace and harmony of Jesus in our lives are glimpses of heaven to those around us. This is the way people are led to believe that God loves them. This is how their sinful hearts are purified and transformed.
With the words, “You are the light of the world,” Jesus committed His followers to a worldwide mission ([Matthew 5:14], NIV). In Jesus’ day, selfishness, pride, and prejudice had built a wall between the Jews—the guardians of God’s truth—and the rest of the world. But Jesus came to change that. The words people heard from His lips were not like anything they had ever heard from the priests or rabbis. Jesus tore down that selfish wall of prejudice and taught that we should love everyone, everywhere. His love lifts people out of their small selfish circles and abolishes national and social distinctions. Jesus sees no difference between neighbors and strangers or friends and enemies. He teaches us to see every person in need as a neighbor and to see the world as our neighborhood. . . .
Jesus gladly accepts the efforts of every person who follows Him. Through Him, humanity combines with the divinity, and the mysteries of God’s gift of love are explained. We can talk about that love, pray about it, sing about it, and broadcast it all over the earth.
The light of God’s love shines brightly in contrast to the dark and selfish heart. The light shines when we handle troubles patiently, when we receive blessings gratefully, when we resist temptation, when we show humility, kindness, mercy, and love every day in everything we do.3
shine where you are
Not all of us are born to preach in front of large crowds, or even small ones. We don’t all have the ability to successfully lead groups in Bible study or to answer difficult questions about doctrine.
But we all are called to share our faith, to shine our light in the world in which we live. This is the mission Jesus left to us, His disciples of today. As individuals and as a church, we must faithfully spread the message given to us.
The simplest and most effective witness we have is our own lives. No matter who we are, we can say to anyone “This is what I believe, and this is the difference that it makes in my life.”
May God make us all His faithful witnesses each day.
Jerry D. Thomas authored numerous books on the life of Christ; including Messiah, Blessings, and The Teachings of Jesus.
