A Pause to Ponder God's Word
"Being Light"

Setting here on my desk is a one quarter inch thick black piece of metal cut into a two and one half inch square with rounded corners. In the center of the square is a very thin one and three quarters inch line. At first glance the line in the center appears to be a scratch. Close investigation reveals that the line is actually a cut that goes completely through the metal. When you hold it up to the light you can see light through the line. The amazing thing about this is that the metal piece was shaped and cut by a laser - by light. It is hard to believe that light could cut anything. But it does and with mind-boggling precision! Light is a powerful thing.

In His sermon on the mount Jesus proclaimed that His disciples "are the light of the world." (Matthew 5:14) I am sure that He did not have lasers in mind when He said this. But, in using this metaphor Jesus did declare that His people possessed powerful "light-like" properties. The particular properties He had in mind are made clear as He further declared: "A city in the hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way let your light shine before men that they may see..."

As light we penetrate the darkness as powerfully as the laser cut through that piece of metal. We do not cut and shape. We are revelatory light. In the same way that a lamp brightens the dark room or illuminates a city so that it can be seen from miles away, so we shine in our dark world. Our light source is Christ Himself. As light we have a powerful effect upon the people in the darkness. As we live out authentic Christianity and faithfully proclaim the gospel we shine.

A couple things occur as we shine. First, our light reveals other's darkness. People in darkness become aware of their plight when the light shines. Jesus tells us in John 3:19 that "men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil." Darkness hides evil. But when light shines it exposes evil. Wounds are bared in the light and sin is uncovered. It is no wonder the world persecutes Christians. They are attempting to extinguish the light. The revelation of their sin is painful, even as it was for us before we came to Christ. The guilt of conviction is overwhelming if not for the second aspect of our being light.

As light we also illuminate the way out of the darkness. Jesus enjoined us to let our "light so shine before men that they will see your good deeds (our "acts of righteousness" accomplished by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit) and praise your Father in heaven." Our witness lights the way to the Savior. Our light source is revealed in our life action. Our words point the way to Him who is "the way, the truth and the light." Even as the laser cut through that piece of metal, so our light cuts its way through the darkness letting in the light of Christ to a lost people.

You may remember that Jesus used this metaphor in conjunction with another. The two (no one told Jesus about mixing His metaphors) powerfully portray what disciples of Jesus are in the world. In Christ we are salt, the purifying preservative that makes people thirsty for God. As light we cut through the darkness exposing sin and illuminating the way to Christ Jesus - the Savior. Therefore, let us fan into flame the gift of God so that we will not lose our saltiness or smother our light. People's eternal lives are dependent upon us being what we are in Christ!

Keep Close to Jesus
Pastor Gerry


A Pause To Ponder God's Word is written and distributed by Gerald Whetstone, Ordained Elder and teacher in the Church of the Nazarene. These devotionals may be transmitted, duplicated, used in part or in entirety without permission for nonprofit purposes only. Responses welcome. To Subscribe Click Here.
Return to Devotional Index