Light to the world

Light to the World

Philippians 2:14-15

As the rays of the sun penetrate to the remotest corners of the globe, so God designs that the light of the gospel shall extend to every soul upon the earth…

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.” John 1:4. 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…

God’s blessings are bestowed through human instrumentality. Christ Himself came to the world as the Son of man. Humanity, united to the divine nature, must touch humanity…

(E.G. White “Thoughts from the Mountain of blessing”, Chapter 2 “Beatitudes”).

I. Their advantage.

The God granted his own disciples.

Matthew 5:14: “You are the light – to the whole world”. He gives the same title to himself. John 8:15. We have to follow Christ that we would be the light to the world.

Psalm 119:105: We’re invited for this. (1 Peter 2:9. 1 John 1:7).

Golden lampstands is the picture of the church (Numbers 8:4. Revelation 1:20. 2:1).

II. Their responsibility.

Believer must shine. Matthew 5:15-16. Do not hide their light. Mark 4:21.

Light must shine in darkness for salvation of others.  (John 1:5. Acts 13:47).

We never have to forget that believers must hold high the word of the life as the light.

1)    It’s not their light, but it’s Christ’s light. Matthew 5:16. Ephesians 5:8. Christians are only bearers of the light. 2 Corinthians 4:6-7.  John 1:8.

2)    Light can’t be: cold, scalding, blinding. Force and influence of our light depends on holiness  and constancy (faithfulness) of our life. Life’s rays should shine but not scald (burn),and  not blind. They have strenghen and comfort in such way that they will aid to research and reveal in yourself – what in human being is.

Light must not be cold (i.e. without fruits), scalding (excessive, unreasonable, raging envy), blinding (it should be measured, it depends on person’s growth). Light must be warm, illuminating human’s condition, it should be the aid for him.

Light should be live. Its testimonies should be represented from “ the light of life”.

“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”  (Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing).

Not any single light brought and will not bring such huge advantage to the mankind as the light proceeding from the Jesus’ personality.

Disciples – light bearers.

We personaly do not have the light. We’re like unlited candle without Christ.

Everything should be natural, not forced– “let there be light”,

1)    Joseph was the light in Egypt.

2)    Faithfull Israelites   – for surrounding nations.

3)    Daniel and his friends in Babylon.

4)    Mordecai in Persia.

5)    It’s not light to Israel, but “you are the light – to the whole world”.

Conclusions

The huge darkness surrounding us, teachers  what our life should be. Light equals love –it’s not looking for the boundaries, no exit, it has to broaden and explode. In a battle of light and darkness  -light is the penetrating instrument. And light equals the life, it’s always in a movement. When it stops progressing , it stops existing.

Rays of the light do not stand queitly. They’re flows of moving particles like the spraying fountain. Light is being revealed in every moment and  believer must shine of it in this world. We’re not glowing (lighting) ourselves, but we get the life from the light source – the God, like the lightbulb -  from generator, battery (accumulator). The  light bulb without the light source – is nothing, the same with us. So we shouldn’t be proud of ourselves.

By Vladimir Shelkov

Download. Light to the world [ 123 KB, PDF]