Matthew 5:14-16 – Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

I believe that our generation has forgotten that we are supposed to be the light of this world. The reason I say this is because of what I have experienced and seen in the churches of God in today’s generation. This is not saying that there are not a few churches out there that are light and are working as they should be. We need to come together and realize that light should shine and be visible. As Matthew 5 states: a candle is not turned on for it to be hidden under something, but instead is turned on or lighted for the purpose of seeing in the darkness. And because of this, it is put on a candlestick so that it can give an even farther light to the full house or area.

This passage tells us for our good works to shine before men, not faith, because faith is not visible unless there are works. This is why it tells us to shine through works for our works will show that we have faith. We will be justified by works not by faith alone, as it says in James 2:24-25. For our faith will bring forth works for our Lord.

There are too many of us that live only by faith, as we say, but there are no works that follow. You must ask yourself if this means that you are not shining, if your candle is not giving light. The question then comes DO WE HAVE TRUE FAITH? For your faith will show the light in the works you do for God. We must have good works for our light to shine before all, and these good works must always, always, glorify our Father which is in heaven.

1 Peter 2:9 – But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light…

You and I have been chosen as a royal priesthood. We were sent to go forth and praise, and through our praise for what Christ our Lord has done for us, we will also shine a light that is living in us and because of this, this light will pull and take the people from this dark world into His marvelous light, which is Christ.

I know for a fact that many people do not think much about praise, but our praise matters not only in words but in our actions as well. When we pray, we must make sure that what we speak and how we act in our praise towards our Lord will show that we have reverence for our God, that we truly love Him and what He has done. This will be a light in itself – showing others that we have faith in our Lord.

When we have faith, we will give praise without doubt, without condemnation for we know we are in Christ, we know what He has promised His children and, because of this, others will see that no matter what we are going through, our soul and spirit still desire our God and we are willing to give Him all the praise and honor that He deserves.

Philippians 2:14-15 – Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 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; …

One way we can be a light is to know how to act as a light. In the passage above, it speaks to us about how we must do all things without grumbling, complaining, or without arguing. For this will allow us to be blameless and harmless, to be without rebuke in the midst of this perverse nation. For we must shine as the light in this world. Just as the passage in Colossians 3:23 states that whatever we do, to do with our full heart as we are doing for our Lord and not for a human master. We need to realize that all of what we do is not for us but for our God and we can show Him glory in all we do once we do it without arguing and complaining at every moment.

We must not act as the world, we must be different, for we have been transformed from this world’s desires, actions, and attitudes, to the image of Christ more and more, day by day, from the working of the Holy Spirit in us. Once we do this, others will see that the Lord gives us more than just faith in Him or hope, but that He is able to transform us into a new creation in Him.

2 Corinthians 6:14 – Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

We must not make alliances with unbelievers. This is one order that many children of God fail at – we must not take part of this world or partake in their actions. We must not try to fit in it, for we are not part of the family of this world any longer, we are part of the family of God and these two do not mix. Do not join with what is inconsistent with your faith, no matter what the consequences may be persecution, hatred, lost of friend among others. We must stay strong in God’s ways and commandments. We, that are righteousness and live according to God, cannot have fellowship with the unjust and unrighteous people of this world.

We cannot join them in events and parties that go against your beliefs, we must not go to birthday parties that go against what you know is wrong. We do not go to homes, clubs, or become partakers of their sinful actions; we must stay away and not be part of them. For we, who are Light, cannot unite with those that are darkness. For they are opposites and cannot unite to each other.

1 Thessalonians 5:5 – Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

We are the children of light and day and not of darkness and night. This shows that we must function in light and during the day not in the darkness and night which is the time evil and filth of this world, for we know when night comes around it is when the devil comes out with all his followers into clubs, bars, drugs, sexual immorality, and all that he tries to keep hidden and secret. For it is much easier to keep it secret and hidden when they are in the dark and confused of the direction they are going. If we become true light-bearers in the day, we will be able to pluck the people out of the darkness and enlighten them to know where they are going, for they too will start living in the light.

Conclusion

We must become true followers and stay a strong light that is on the lampstand, to show others that Christ is true and lives in us. We must allow our light to shine through the works that our faith brings in us. And do all this with praise and thanksgiving for we are doing it all for our God. There are many other passages as well that are still in the Word of God about being the light, these are just a few that have been used here to make a point, for us to realize that it does matter how we act, talk, or dress in this world for we must be different and not like them. We need to go and further study the Word of God, to grow in this light that we must become.

Let us Shine for all to see!