Light of the World
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. – Matthew 5:14-16
The flight from Lubbock to Dallas took off at twilight. Soon the cloudless West Texas sky went from blue to purple to yellow to orange to the black of night. The plane flew effortlessly through the night sky. As I looked down, I could see the lights of range homes, small towns, and cities. The pilot announced that we would turn over Wichita Falls and head into our Dallas approach. Since Wichita Falls was home for me for seven years. I intently studied the lights out the window.
The lights outlined the neighborhoods distinctively marked by diagonal streets. I traced the Interstate highway, found the boulevard and downtown. I could see the area of St. Paul Lutheran Church. Then I followed the roads to the hospital. From the hospital it was easy to pick out the intersection of Kell Boulevard and Brook Street. Memories flooded over me as I remembered the church where son Rich was confirmed, the hospital where Russell was born, the house we called home, the school where we taught.
Even from 12,000 feet, the lights outlined the city – the landmarks, the houses – it was easy to find the familiar buildings. The lights provided direction, recognition and comfort.
Christians are charged to be the lights of the world – we are to shine our light – provide direction, recognition, and comfort. Just as the street lights provided the directions I needed to find the landmarks – Christians are to use their light to provide the directions to eternal life,. For the good deeds and gracious words of the Christian punctuate the goodness and graciousness of our heavenly Father. Our words and deeds of light provide direction to the world – we always point to our Father – the One who provides eternal life.
Just as the patterns of light allowed me to recognize familiar streets and landmarks, our shining light allows the world to recognize us for who we are – and whose we are – we are Christ-followers. Christ is our power – our light-giver. It is His power that saves us from sin, death and the world. Our natural state is one of darkness – separated from our heavenly Father. Our sin devours the light, yet Christ penetrates our sin-filled darkness with His light of salvation. He redeems us – fills us with His light. Our shining lights allow the world to recognize not only us – but also Christ.
The familiar patterns of the lights brought back feelings of comfort. The sight of the lights brought back many memories of trips away from home – trips for celebrations, trips for vacations, trips for gathering family together. For the lights of home always comforted when we returned from these trips. No matter what the stress level in the car, the sight of the familiar lights calmed, comforted – we were home. The light of Christ shining brightly in those surrounding us gives us comfort – their lights remind us of our heavenly home – eternal celebration, eternal peace, eternal joy – basking in the light of our Father. No matter what the stress level we have in our earthly trip – the Christ-lights that surround us calm and comfort – we have a heavenly home.
Soon the pilot made a wide turn and I saw the lights of Dallas – the bright orange of streetlights, the bright white of flood lights, the blinking red stop lights, the cones of white preceding the cars. I caught sight of the pulsating strobe lights of the landing strip. The plane touched earth with barely a jolt and followed the green lights to the terminal. The lights guided us safely home.
We are called to be lights. The light we shine isn’t used to mark household fixtures, roads or landing strips. Our lights shine the bright light of the gospel. This light is seen from afar – the light that directs to the heavenly home. Little did the man who placed the streetlights along the boulevard know that it would someday be used to guide me to a glimpse of home. We also do not know who will see our light and be guided to home. I pray that I constantly shine bright.
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. – Matthew 5:14-16
The flight from Lubbock to Dallas took off at twilight. Soon the cloudless West Texas sky went from blue to purple to yellow to orange to the black of night. The plane flew effortlessly through the night sky. As I looked down, I could see the lights of range homes, small towns, and cities. The pilot announced that we would turn over Wichita Falls and head into our Dallas approach. Since Wichita Falls was home for me for seven years. I intently studied the lights out the window.
The lights outlined the neighborhoods distinctively marked by diagonal streets. I traced the Interstate highway, found the boulevard and downtown. I could see the area of St. Paul Lutheran Church. Then I followed the roads to the hospital. From the hospital it was easy to pick out the intersection of Kell Boulevard and Brook Street. Memories flooded over me as I remembered the church where son Rich was confirmed, the hospital where Russell was born, the house we called home, the school where we taught.
Even from 12,000 feet, the lights outlined the city – the landmarks, the houses – it was easy to find the familiar buildings. The lights provided direction, recognition and comfort.
Christians are charged to be the lights of the world – we are to shine our light – provide direction, recognition, and comfort. Just as the street lights provided the directions I needed to find the landmarks – Christians are to use their light to provide the directions to eternal life,. For the good deeds and gracious words of the Christian punctuate the goodness and graciousness of our heavenly Father. Our words and deeds of light provide direction to the world – we always point to our Father – the One who provides eternal life.
Just as the patterns of light allowed me to recognize familiar streets and landmarks, our shining light allows the world to recognize us for who we are – and whose we are – we are Christ-followers. Christ is our power – our light-giver. It is His power that saves us from sin, death and the world. Our natural state is one of darkness – separated from our heavenly Father. Our sin devours the light, yet Christ penetrates our sin-filled darkness with His light of salvation. He redeems us – fills us with His light. Our shining lights allow the world to recognize not only us – but also Christ.
The familiar patterns of the lights brought back feelings of comfort. The sight of the lights brought back many memories of trips away from home – trips for celebrations, trips for vacations, trips for gathering family together. For the lights of home always comforted when we returned from these trips. No matter what the stress level in the car, the sight of the familiar lights calmed, comforted – we were home. The light of Christ shining brightly in those surrounding us gives us comfort – their lights remind us of our heavenly home – eternal celebration, eternal peace, eternal joy – basking in the light of our Father. No matter what the stress level we have in our earthly trip – the Christ-lights that surround us calm and comfort – we have a heavenly home.
Soon the pilot made a wide turn and I saw the lights of Dallas – the bright orange of streetlights, the bright white of flood lights, the blinking red stop lights, the cones of white preceding the cars. I caught sight of the pulsating strobe lights of the landing strip. The plane touched earth with barely a jolt and followed the green lights to the terminal. The lights guided us safely home.
We are called to be lights. The light we shine isn’t used to mark household fixtures, roads or landing strips. Our lights shine the bright light of the gospel. This light is seen from afar – the light that directs to the heavenly home. Little did the man who placed the streetlights along the boulevard know that it would someday be used to guide me to a glimpse of home. We also do not know who will see our light and be guided to home. I pray that I constantly shine bright.
