Ye Are the Light of the World | Matthew 5:14-16

Matthew 5:14-16 "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an 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."

Once again our Lord simply states what we are: the light of the world. This is not up for debate—it is what He has made us. No wonder He made us light—He is the Light of the world. No man lights a light to hide it, but to let it shine. Neither did Christ put His light in you so that you might hide it, but that you might be one of His lights in this dark world. To shine is His purpose for your life. So shine until Jesus comes! Shine when you are alone and when you are in a crowd, shine on happy days and sad days. Let the light of the world shine through you.

A City Set on a Hill

Jesus uses two illustrations of lights. One is a city set on a hill, and the other a candle in a house. The city is a representation of the church as a whole. When all the men and women who have the light of the world living in them get together, we are like the lights of a city on a long road, giving hope to a weary traveler. Lights ahead! That means life is ahead, people to speak to, places of rest, and fires for cooking a meal. As the church we are signs of life to this world. When they see our fellowship and our communities, they know there is a city where rest and fullness can be found. Oh that we would be a city set on a hill! Beckoning the lost world to come and find rest in Christ and fulfillment in Christ!

A Candle in the House

It is much easier to shine in the presence of other Christians, but what about when you are alone? His second illustration is one lonely candle in a house. This is the situation many of God's people have found themselves in, when they are the only light in all their house. Surrounded by darkness at work, at home, in the family—and yet no matter how small they may be or how great the darkness may be, they shine anyway.

Dear lonely Christian, you must shine even if you are alone, and God lights some of His children for that very purpose: to shine in the darkest and loneliest places. But take courage. Notice what He says these do: "it giveth light unto all that are in the house." By your faithful shining, God will give light to those around you! I remember when I was working as a contractor, Christian fellowship was almost non-existent for a long period of time, so I had to shine alone—but not for long. The light of Christ that shined in the life of a few of us men arrested the heart of one of our co-workers, and he came to Christ! If you are shining alone today, take heart—He is giving light to those around you.

Let Your Light Shine

Mark the instruction in this section well: "Let your light so shine." That is a responsibility we must take up. I am a light, I have His light, but I must let it shine. So remove whatever has been hiding the light. Has it been a hot temper that hides the light of Christ? Has it been a foul mouth? Has it been some other besetting sin? The cure for darkness is simple: bring it to the light. Bring all your darkness to the Light, Jesus, and let it disappear so you can shine!

Jesus closes this section of His sermon by clearly stating the purpose of shining: "that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Motive matters, and if our good works are so that others will see us, then we are glorified and no one is helped. But if God be lifted up and men drawn to Him, then they will find what's been missing all along. So when you are doing good, forgiving others, preferring others above yourself, or any other good work, be sure that it is so people will be drawn to Christ and hold Him in high regard, not yourself. "Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31).