BRIGHT LIGHTS IN THE WORLD
OR
REVEALED DARKNESS
SUNDAY AUGUST 29, 2021
Scripture To Consider:
“No one when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lamp stand, that those who come in may see the light. The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness.”
“Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole body is full of light, as when the bright shining of a lamp gives you light.” Luke 11.33-36
Something To Consider:
Portions of our passage today have been covered by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew’s gospel. But the Holy Spirit must have been impressed with the importance of allowing Luke to repeat the same teaching of Jesus elsewhere. As mentioned earlier, there are many teachings or sayings of Jesus that are repeated or alluded to by the different gospel writers.
This occurrence would be no different than the same news story being covered by three or four different reporters working for the same or different news networks. But there is one constant underlying truth that must never be forgotten. That truth being what the apostle Paul shared in 2 Timothy 3.16, while encouraging young Timothy.
Paul stated, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is [present tense] is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man [woman or young person] of God [leader in training] may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” And the reason for our being left here on earth is to be spiritually equipped for every good work pertaining to the kingdom of God.
Therefore, how are we doing this Sunday, August 29, 2021? Have we become bright lights for Christ in this extremely wayward world? Or have we foolishly become a part of the vast revealed darkness? Our becoming and remaining part of the revealed darkness only leads to eternal death. Therefore, let us become and remain bright lights in the world by becoming and remaining spiritually equipped by the hearing and by our doing according to the Word of God.
Something Else To Consider:
Part of our being equipped spiritually according to Jesus, is our being reminded that, “No one when he [or she] has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lamp stand, that those who come in may see the light.” In other words, Jesus is the light of the world, therefore, why would we want to be found guilty of hiding His light?
And now that Jesus is seated in heaven at the right hand of God the Father interceding on our behalf to the Father, we as true believers have become the light of the world, empowered by the Holy Spirit of God to reflect the light of the truth of His Word. That is unless the light which is in us is or has become darkness through our neglect or rejection of His Word. If that is the present case, then it needs to be dealt with!
Paul also instructed in Galatians 6.1, “Brethren, if a man [woman or young person] is overtaken in any trespass [sin or iniquity], you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.” This is very good biblical advice we should all take to heart at all times.
Therefore, let us be bright lights in the world and ready to reveal the darkness of deception at a moment’s notice! Yes, it appears easier to hide our lights among so much darkness. Yes, it appears easier to not confess Christ among so much evil. But if we refuse to confess Jesus, He will refuse to confess us before His Father in heaven! And that only leads to eternal destruction.
Something Else To Consider:
Jesus threw open the curtain of truth to reveal a spiritual phenomenon. For if the darkness of sin has been allowed access into our lives as Christians, the light which is in us has become darkness. But if our whole body is full of light, full of the truth of God’s Word, and we respond to that truth by confession and faithfully living according to God’s Word, then we become bright shining lights in the world.
As such, His light then exposes the darkness around us wherever we are sent by God, thereby allowing our lights to so shine that it brings glory to God and dispels darkness at every turn. The world is in desperate need of the light of Christ, the light of His Word, the light of His forgiveness, and the light of His salvation!
God speaking to Isaiah of Jesus in Isaiah 42.6-7 proclaimed, “I, the LORD, have called You [Jesus] in righteousness, and will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles, to open blind eyes [spiritually blinded eyes], to bring out prisoners from the prison [spiritually imprisoned souls], those who sit in darkness from the prison house.”
A Few Final Words:
In both the Old and in the New Testament, Jesus is affirmed as the original bright light sent unto all who were and are in darkness! Jesus, in coming to the earth on His first coming, has revealed the darkness of sin and death. In His second coming, according to Jesus in Matthew 24.27, will create an enlightening and earth shaking experience that will take billions of deceived individuals totally by surprise.
According to Jesus in Matthew 24.27, “For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man [Jesus] be.” And yet, His second coming will be in judgment! In His second coming He will come to establish righteousness in the earth and to punish the unrighteous who have chosen not to submit their will to Him and to His Word.
Spiritual leaders and leaders in training should routinely surrender to the spiritual inspections carried out by the Holy Spirit of God; inspections that may reveal any and all darkness hiding among the light. Therefore, is our bodily temple overdue for an inspection?
Jesus declared, “Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness.” And if it proves at any time to be darkness, that darkness can only be dispersed by the bright shining light of the Word of God. Let us not allow the word of man and the doctrines of demons to dispel the light of God’s Word in our lives. Let us pray God makes us to be bright lights in this present darkness of this world.
Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, remove any and all darkness from our lives while allowing the light of Your truth, of whom is Jesus, to burn brightly in us in the midst of so much end time evil and spiritual darkness. In Him Always, Amen!
According to Jesus 