In Matt. 5 Jesus says, “You are the light of the world.” But in John 8, he says
that, “I am the light of the world.” Which is it? It is both. Read the rest of John 8.
“Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
By following Jesus we have the light to be the light of the world. Paul expands on the theme in Ephesians 5: 8-9. “ For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)”
You don’t need my help to think of all the imagery, benefits, and symbolism that the term “light” provides. The third thing that God created after the heavens and the earth was light.
Imagine an existence without light. It sounds stupid I know but I want us to realize what our role is as the light of the world. Have you ever shut off your lights before getting into bed and notice where your eyes immediately move? They always move to the brightest part of the room. We are drawn to light in dramatic ways.
We must ask ourselves, does my light reflect the light of Christ or the darkness of Satan? How bright do I shine? Am I just a little flicker or a burning flame? If you think you are just biding time until you get to heaven, then you are not being light to the world.
When I see the church I see so much light it is overwhelming but at times you see a group of Christians who do not know how to be light. But Paul tells us in Ephesians, to live as children of light is to produce goodness, righteousness, and truth. In the Sermon on the Mount, which this passage comes from, Jesus details a life that is bursting with light. Follow its example to become Children of Light.
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