Light of the World

A hotel leaving its porch light on in a sea of darkness as a sign to show that guests and travellers are always welcome is an apt illustration of a Christian being a light to the world. As a light of the world, we are the “go to” place for the lost to find the way to eternal life. We are the stairway and bridge to Christ. We point the way to Jesus and God as Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. The Kingdom of God is where we are, we are the light of the world.

As a light for the world, we are not only the entrance and pointer to God’s kingdom but we ourselves also illuminate the way for others, for the world. We are the source of God’s wisdom for the world, a place of counsel and good advice. We illuminate the path like the Word of God is a lamp unto our way. We have the Word of God in us as Christ and the Holy Spirit are within us, living in us. We are thus Christ to the dying and broken world, the source of joy and comfort, of encouragement and edification, the place of counsel and wisdom.

Practically, in Matthew 5:3-10 aka the Beautitudes, Jesus had listed the attributes of those who are in and thus the Kingdom of God. Good deeds, humility, meekness, showing mercy, righteousness, a pure heart and peacemaking. These are the attributes of us as children of the light, besides our countenance that displays the glory of God. Thus being the light for the world is certainly not a mere assertion but an attitude of wanting and being the person pointing others to God the Father, Christ and the Holy Spirit. It is also the attitude of wanting and being the person with wisdom and counsel of God and most crucially it is having the character of God with good deeds, humility, meekness, mercy, righteousness, pureness of heart and peacemaking. As we display and have the attributes of God in our lives, others will look to us as a beacon of hope in the dying and broken world, and thus a light in the sea of darkness! Therefore let’s go out there into the world today and start being that light that shines forth in and for the darkness!