This article is one of many faith, inspiration and empowerment foundational articles on this site. For more faith-based empowerment articles see collection here.
In the article beow references to: “the world” simply refers to the majority of people mathematically speaking, and the dominant percent of people who do not know Jesus as their personal Lord and savior. Also, references to: “darkness” refers to the state of not knowing, lack of enlightenment or disorientation to the proper context of the situation. Hopefully this makes the context of the following topic easier to comprehend.
The world lives in spiritual darkness. The darkness of not knowing what happens after we die. The darkness of putting your hope on temporary things that will perish; and the darkness of limited perception. As Christians we hold a hope and outlook that goes beyond the darkness of this world and allows us to see by faith what lies beyond the present.
The Bible calls believers to be spiritually (and mentally) separate from the world, but in a good way and for many reasons, among them is so that we can be great light-bearers and good news bearers who help others heal and be enlightened.
Being a bearer of light (good news, positivity, love, compassion) means not operating within the worldly logic, lifestyle and rationale that leads to the same hopelessness or darkness. Think about it. If you're living in the same hopelessness as someone else, and you look to the same things as they do, what good is it to them?
This is why societal and cultural obsessions and practices are always to be downstream of our identity in Christ. This means roving the planet bearing the PRIMARY identity of a child of God, not members of a corporation, political group, nationality, society or culture which all get in the way of the light.
This is not about going around preaching scolding and screaming at others telling them they're going to hell and you're not because you are “saved”. This means you follow where the Spirit leads. This means you imitate Christ by loving treating and helping others as you want to be loved treated and helped. This is what being a light-bearer really involves.
Think of this mandate as a VIP assignment from God in which you are a star actor appointed to perform at a big public event. You can be in the audience or you can don your uniform, name tag, special entry voucher, tool kit and equipment and be part of the show. Would you rather be a highly paid performer on stage or just in the audience? Whichever it is, know that God is asking us to take the stage and be a “star” for Him, and this is very exciting once you understand what this means.
The Apostles understood this calling to be on the primary stage of the game of life, as did the prophets and chosen leaders in the Old Testament. God calls us out of the crowd to be special assignment citizens of His special show, and to be light-bearing ushers and performers in the temporary stage of life! Doesn't it sound much more exciting when you look at things from God's perspective instead of our worldly boring perspective?
In order to excel at this privileged light-bearing assignment, our primary loyalty must be to the boss (using the stadium stage example above) in other words, to God. Note that if your primary loyalty is not to God, but instead it's to something of this world, then your ability to “perform on stage” or fulfill your role as a light-bearer is severely compromised. Many people who (shall we say) often find themselves labeled as “fake Christians” fall into this trap because their primary loyalty is to something other than God – money, power, political power, personal achievement, glamour, attention etc.
Ironically it is often the unbelievers, secularists and or bitter “former Christians” that identify this hypocrisy quickest – to which I often say, good! It's good that people can see for themselves what Christianity is NOT! Or, to apply this to our example of being a light-bearer – people who dwell in the dark, and (this is the key) are LOOKING for the light will be the FIRST to know if someone enters the room with a LIGHT! Trust them! [Obviously this example does not apply to all situations - like people who hate all Christians or anyone who disagrees with them, etc..]
In order to fulfill our privileged assignment of being the light of the world we're to physically jump in and get close to the world like Jesus did. Mathew 5:14 says:
You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Jesus did not isolate Himself from the world and neither should we. We're to do our part in mixing in strategically with the world in order to fulfill God's functional purpose. That functional purpose involves loving others, helping them, listening to them, being there for them, sharing the amazing message of the Gospel with them, lovingly offering advice when the time is right and being a preservative agent.
This is what being the salt of the earth is about, and it constitutes a big part of our role on earth. The salt does not work unless its around other things that need preservation. Matthew 5:13 says:
You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men
The preservation role that we play is a reminder of the gap that exists between God's children and the world. Here are important Bible verses addressing this separation or gap that exists between the natural world and God's kingdom:
John 18:36- Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world."
John 15:19- If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
Philippians 3:20- But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ
1 John 2:15- Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him
As you can see the Bible tells us that God is not of this world and that as adopted citizens of His kingdom we are to live morally and express and carry priorities interests and desires that are not of this world but of God's kingdom. All of this is impossible without the love of God being deeply rooted in our hearts. The love of God then allows us or empowers us to love others. The world then sees the love we have and responds to that love. The love we have for them acts as a light. Light is used to brighten up things, to light up paths and to improve what someone sees, not to destroy them.
The world will see the light that lights up their path because they see the source of that light which is the love of God in us. The love of God in us (the light) is the thing that will positively impact people's lives. This love cannot be appreciated unless you love God first.
Some today focus (or talk about) on one of the two great commandments (love God, love people) but not the other, not realizing they necessarily work together. You can't say you love God, then turn around and not love others, and you can't claim to love people while your walk in Christ, and thus your love for God is dead. The source of the light must abide in you and be in working condition.
This goes back to the issue of identity and the heart. And the issues of: what are your priorities? And, who do you love? Which reminds me of what Jesus said in Luke 16:13 regarding who is your master:
No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
So in order to be the light of the world that shines in the path of others and lifts them up, let's examine our love for God and our love for people because thinking you can love one without the other is self deception.
Let's also pray for understanding of what role God has for each of us as we FREELY navigate the world, stand deep inside the crowd, rubbing elbows with everyone, while fulfilling our functional role of shinning His light. That brings us back to the original question: Is your light shining?