It’s so easy to get caught up in a moment where emotions get the best of us. We profess to be Christians, but in a moment of weakness, we speak in a not-so-Christian tone to another, or say something that Jesus would look at us with a side-eye – you know “that look,” the same one that your mother gave you when you were younger.
Jesus ain’t too happy with what came out of your mouth – the language, or the attitude.
The result? Some person says: “And that person says they’re a Christian? What a mouth! What an attitude!”
And they’re absolutely right!
Matthew and Luke both had the Sermon on the Mount in their respective Gospels. Matthew was a little more detailed than Luke in many regards, but with this particular portion – Luke had more detail.
Matthew’s version:
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:15-16 NKJV)
Luke’s version:
“No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lampstand 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 will be full of light, as when the bright shining of a lamp gives you light.” (Luke 11:33-36 NKJV)
Both passages talk of us being “a light to the world.” Part of being a light of the world is to be a beacon to the unsaved – to draw others to the love of Christ.
Our home is on a hill – and our prayer every morning is to be a light on the hill – so others see the light outside of the basket, and in us, which is the love of Christ.
You see, God says we’re to be a “peculiar” people – we’re to be different from others. This can be seen all over the Bible, both Old and New Testaments – Deuteronomy 14:2; 26:18; ; Psalm 135:4; Exodus 19:5; Malachi 3:17 – but look in the New Testament – it’s not just the Israelites. Titus 2:11-14 show how all believers are to be a peculiar people:
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
The New King James says we’re to be a “special” people – peculiar or special, it means that we’re to be set apart, to show up differently from other people.
When you’re living like the world, you’re hiding your light. Christ is not showing through you, the world is.
Both Matthew uses the analogy of putting your light under a basket – Luke also uses the analogy of hiding your light. When you hide your light, you’re not showing the love of Christ, and the Gospel to others.
Doesn’t Jesus command us in Matthew 28 that we’re to spread the Gospel (vv. 19-20)?
You can’t do that if you’re pounding down beers in a bar, cussing someone out, being disrespectful with your spouse, or just plain acting like the world.
People see this! Unsaved people see this – and their reaction is predictable, “and this is a Christian? Why on earth would I have anything to do with them?”
We’re fish in a fishbowl – our lives are there for all to see. If we act like those of the world – then we’re being a lousy witness (or light) for Christ.
Or put another way – if you support what God says is detestable, such as abortion, or same sex marriage, or this transgender nonsense, for example – you’re supporting the world, not the gospel.
We’re to be loving these supporters of sin into salvation, and therefore the Kingdom – not wishing or condemning them into Hell, which is where they’re certainly going unless we show them the light and they repent.
Jesus came to be a “Light to the World” (John 9:5) – and we too, are to be a light to the world.
Get the idea?
We need to draw the lost – and instead of browbeating, or as we used to say, bible-beating them. Let your light so shine, be a peculiar people, that you make the darkness disappear!
There’s enough craziness and nonsense around today – it’s going to be up to us to teach some sanity to the world. Without it, this world is ripe for judgment.
And if you think for one moment that God’s going to wink at the nonsense going on down here – men with men, women with women, men who think they’re women, women who think they’re men, killing the unborn in the womb, the deceit in government – federal, state and local, and a raft of other sin, you’re sadly mistaken.
And to the pastors who, tacitly or outwardly, support this garbage – I’d hate to be in your shoes when standing before Christ.
You either shine the light – and love of Christ, to bring the lost to salvation now – through the narrow gate to eternal life, or the lost will be going through that broad gate to destruction (Matthew 7:13) – the choice, pastor, is yours.
Do your jobs – let your light so shine.
The #Heb10 Church 