Imagine you’re in a dark room, fumble your way to a lighter and manage to feel around for a candle. You light it.
You gently place the candle in front of a mirror. What do you see?
Two candles.
The cleaner the mirror is, the harder it is to tell which candle is which. Ultimately, the room becomes a little bit brighter because of the reflection.
Now imagine you blow out the candle. What happens to the room?
Darkness once more.
“You 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.”
Matt 5:14 – 16
Light is Beautiful
Light is beautiful. While the science of light is extremely complex, we all understand how light works. It shines and wherever it touches, darkness fails.
Moreover, we all know that things either make light or they do not. This verse only makes sense if men are either luminous themselves, like the sun, or if they are conveyers of light, like the moon.
Jesus is the Light and makes You a Light
We are not sources of light, but reflectors. The only luminous thing that exists is God. We reflect his light so others may see his glory – for how are we going to lead people out of the darkness unless we light their way?
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
John 1:1-4
Let us Pray
Jesus, you are the great light, who has polished us, making us ambassadors of your light on earth. You have led us out of darkness and lead others out through us. Therefore, I ask again, don’t let us lose our saltiness, nor hide our lamps under a basket, but rather let your light shine through your people, so others may see your glory. Amen.
