You Are The Light Of The World

"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." (1)

"The Saviour looked upon the company before Him, and then to the rising sun, and said to His disciples, 'You are the light of the world.' As the sun goes forth on its errand of love, dispelling the shades of night and awakening the world to life, so the followers of Christ are to go forth on their mission, diffusing the light of heaven upon those who are in the darkness of error and sin.

"In the brilliant light of the morning, the towns and villages upon the surrounding hills stood forth clearly, making an attractive feature of the scene. Pointing to them, Jesus said, 'A city set on a hill cannot be hid.' And He added, 'Neither do men light a lamp, and put it under the bushel, but on the stand; and it shineth unto all that are in the house" (RV). Most of those who listened to the words of Jesus were peasants and fishermen whose lowly dwellings contained but one room, in which the single lamp on its stand shone to all in the house. Even so, said Jesus, 'Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.'

"Jesus, the Saviour, is the only light that can illuminate the darkness of a world lying in sin. Of Christ it is written, 'In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.' (2) It was by receiving of His life that His disciples could become light bearers. The life of Christ in the soul, His love revealed in the character, would make them the light of the world.

"Humanity has in itself no light... But when we turn toward the Sun of Righteousness, when we come in touch with Christ, the whole soul is aglow with the brightness of the divine presence.

"Christ's followers are to be more than a light in the midst of men. They are the light of the world. Jesus says to all who have named His name, 'You have given yourselves to Me, and I have given you to the world as My representatives.' As the Father had sent Him into the world, so, He declares, 'have I also sent them into the world.' (3) As Christ is the channel for the revelation of the Father, so we are to be the channel for the revelation of Christ. While our Saviour is the great source of illumination, forget not, O Christian, that His is revealed through humanity." (4)

1. Matthew 5:14-16.
2. John 1:4.
3. John 17:18.
4. Thoughts From The Mount Of Blessing, pp., 38-40.