Relieved probably falls short of describing my emotions when I caught a glimmer of a distant light through the trees. Rarely do I get turned around in the woods but this moonless and cloudy night was one those times. With no moon or visible stars, I had no reference for direction. I rambled through the dense forest with a deer stand on my back and carrying my rife for almost two hours. Thankfully, the occupants of the only house in this rural area had left their porch light turned on. Following that dim light, I finally reached a dirt road. Although I was five miles from my truck, I knew this road led back to where I parked.
We are living in a dark world that is rapidly growing darker. Jesus declared, While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world (Joh 9:5). Knowing He would soon return to His Father, He told His disciples, You are the light of the world (Mat 5:14). Jesus added that people light a lamp, place it on a lampstand so others can see, and not under a basket or a bed. I can imagine the audience chuckled and thought, “That’s right. The light would go out under a bushel and catch the bed on fire.” Yet, they understood His point that a lamp was meant to be seen. As the light of the world we must be visible and let our light shine before men.
Some people love the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil and do not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed (John 3:19-20). However, this is not the case for all people. Multitudes all around us are searching for even a flicker of hope in this chaotic world. We may be tempted to think our light is too small to do any good. Note Jesus’ analogy—a candle or a lamp. A lamp was a small saucer with a twisted piece of cloth, and placed in a few drops of oil. Certainly nothing like the bright lights we use in our homes today.
You may also be tempted to think, “I’m surrounded by darkness. I am the only Christian where I work. My light probably won’t even be seen in so much darkness.” John tells us, The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it (John 1:5 LITV). A better translation, Darkness does not have the ability to suppress or to hold the light under its domain. “There is not enough darkness in all the world to put out the light of even one small candle” (Robert Alden). One dim light in the distance provided all I needed to find my way after wandering in the darkness. Several square miles of darkness surrounded the lone house but it had no effect on the small porch light. Even with all that darkness, it could not suppress the light.
God has not given me the gift of evangelism or the boldness to walk up to a stranger and share the gospel. I know some reading this also live with the same shyness. Yet, we can still light up the darkness. Jesus added, Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven (Mat 5:16). Good works do not bring salvation or add to it. Rather we do good works because Christ lives in us. Good works radiate like a light to those in darkness. A few ways of showing our light is as simple as being nice to people, doing good deeds, saying something kind at the checkout to the clerk whose had a bad day, or showing joy around others worried about terror, the economy, or a plague. None of these takes any special ability or boldness. Do this long enough, and people will remember you and know you have something they do not. This opens the door for even us shy people to tell them why we have hope.
Of course, the key is letting your light shine. A flashlight is useless unless you turn it on. A candle is only a piece of wax and string until we light it. I will never know the reason why the residents of the lone house left their porch light on and they will never know how it helped me find my way. You may not know how your little light helped someone lost in this dark world find their way to Christ. They will tell you in heaven. Jesus ends the verse by saying that letting our light shine for man to see our good words will glorify your Father who is in heaven. It does not matter if they come to it or run away fearing it will expose their evil deeds. Paul uses the analogy of smell showing how we affect those who either find life or who perish. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life (2 Cor 2:15). In either case, we glorify God.
This old spiritual gospel song amply says how we need to live in this dark world. This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine. Ev’ry where I go, I’m going to let it shine. All in my house, I’m going to let it shine. I’m not going to make it shine, I’m just going to let it shine. Out in the dark, I’m going to let it shine.
Sustaining Word for the Week: Turn your porch light on. Someone may be lost searching for a way out of the darkness.