Lights in the Darkness
Matthew 5:14-16
"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
I spent several years on the mission field in Korea while I was growing up. It was a unique experience, and I'm glad I was there for those years. The country has been divided for more than seventy years now, and there are many stark differences between North Korea and South Korea. Some time ago, I saw a photo of the Korean peninsula that was taken at night and highlighted the divide. In South Korea, the cities and towns are aglow with lights; while in North Korea, it is almost all darkness. There is little economic growth or development in the Communist nation. By contrast, it's hard to find a place in the free country where there aren't lights. In a photo taken in the darkness, those lights are impossible to hide.
God has called His children to be lights in the darkness of the world around us. We don't need anyone to remind us of how dark and hopeless things are because we see it every day. Rather than being discouraged by that darkness, we should be inspired to make our lives count for God. Speaking of John the Baptist, Jesus said, “He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light” (John 5:35). The reality is that everyone around us should easily be able to see that we are children of God. This is best done not through our speaking, though we should speak the truth, but through our daily living.
Growth Principle:
If our lives are filled with the light of God, it will be impossible to conceal it from those around us.