The Trouble with Light

You know the what the trouble with light is? The trouble with light is that it is awfully hard to hide it in the darkness.  Around other light, not so much of a problem.  But in the midst of darkness, light has a way of standing out doesn't it? 

In Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus uses the following illustration:

You (my followers) 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. 

It struck me when I read this recently how powerful a truth this is.  I've skimmed over it dozens of times, but something jumped out at me this time.  As believers, we won't be able to hide who we are and what we stand for in this world.  God has made us to stand out!  As light in the darkness, we can't hide, nor should we hide, this amazing grace and love that we have been saved with.  And yet, I think if we were to be honest, we spend an inordinate amount of time trying to fit in and not stand out.  Even with good intentions of relating to the culture around us, we try to be discrete with our livestyle, our worldview and our beliefs.  And yet Jesus tells His followers some amazing truths:

1. "You are the light of the world" - In other words, I am filling you with my good news, my life and the power of the Spirit and sending you to be light in the darkness.  John 1 says "In Him was life, and the life was the LIGHT OF MEN!" (emphasis mine)  You are the "LIFE Carriers!"  You are the ones who will go to the ends of the world illuminating the truths of the gospel unashamed and bringing His life to dead things.  When was the last time you woke up and thought ... "God, use me today to go into the dark places and shine the light of your life and hope to those who are spiritually dead around me?"  The only thing worse than darkness is something that has the ability to bring light to darkness but won't.  It's purpose is unfulfilled and it's potential wasted.
2. "A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket..."  In other words, church ... here is your purpose, to be light in the darkness.  Again in John 1, it says that "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."  Don't waste your time trying to hide behind clever explanations and human wisdom.  Just as Jesus came into the world and was misunderstood, so will you.  But you are still called to shine.  We can easily fall into the trap of trying to relate so much to the world that we lose our true identity as light.  Light is designed to shine AND to be seen by all, whether it is wanted or not.
3. "... but on a stand ..." - I have good news and better news.  The good news is that God would want to use us.  The better news is that He will "raise us up" so our light can reach as many people as possible.  So try as we may to hide our light, God has a way of leading us to places where we will be exposed for all to see.  Why?  Because that's what you do with light.  And in most instances, the higher you put a light, the more square footage it can illuminate.  Yet we can be tempted to construct well sounding excuses why we can't shine right now.  Excuses like, "I don't know enough yet ... or ... now just isn't the right time to shine."  As if we will ever know enough or the timing will ever be right.  They're all excuses to stay tucked away under our "basket" so we can fit in and be comfortable.  But why?  Is the gospel "good news" or not?
4. "... and it gives light to all the house." - This is short and sweet.  Where does God want His light to shine?  To all the corners and recesses of the places He sends His church.  No place is exempt.  God's desire is that His light reaches into the full extent of the darkness.  Illuminating all that would try to remain hidden.  Because once we see things in His light, we can finally see them for what they are ... death.  And only then can He breath into them and raise them to life.  But as long as they stay in the darkness, we can ignore them and pretend like they don't exist.  
5. "In the same way, let your light shine before others ..." - I LOVE THIS.  Pull back the covers people of God and let God shine through you.  Don't hide.  A lost and dying world needs to see the light and love of God and, as He draws them to it, they will run to repentance and forgiveness.  So Jesus boldly commands us to let our light shine right before others.  Will you be mocked and ridiculed at times?  YES!  Will people be drawn to the light?  YES!  This is His plan.  To send His church into the world where they will shine as bright lights and in turn, draw those in the dark to His glory. 
6. "So that they may see your good works ..." - How beautifully simple and simply beautiful.  Let everyone see your good works.  I reminder that the life of God always finds it's expression in good works.  Not  just talk ... action!  The continued ministry of Jesus to be exact.  Your good works aren't the light, but they show what the light does in a believer.  How radical the transformation is and how complete the freedom stretches. 
7. "... and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." - and the desired result is that all will see the light and give glory and praise, not to the one shining, but to the One who provides the light.  To the One who redeems lost mankind and fills him once again with the breath of heaven so that he may live again.  That's who we glorify.  Jesus Christ.  The author of life.  And when it's working right, the world is drawn to His glory, not us.  

Lord, help us to simply shine.  We don't have to manufacture light; just shine.  We don't have to jockey for position to shine; just shine where we are.  We don't have to be ashamed; just shine and leave the details to Him.  We don't have to be concerned with the darkness; just shine and let Him illuminate dark places.  We don't dare take credit for shining; just point to the One who gave us His light!