Light of the World

By J. L. Leifeste

“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” (Matt. 5:14-16).

Light eliminates the darkness and illuminates the things that truly exist. Light originates by various means. Sun in the daytime, campfires, simple torches, oil lamps, electric light bulbs, and other ways can give us light. People are often afraid of the dark because they cannot see what it contains, or they cannot see where they are going. Light eliminates certain fears by showing the surroundings and the pathways. People with total blindness live in darkness. They often learn not to fear it as much, and to navigate in it better, than many people with full sight. But, because of the dark, they can still have problems in unfamiliar surroundings. Often, people commit the worst moral and ethical deeds in the dark where they hope others cannot see them. However, people doing good deeds do not need to regret anyone seeing their actions (Jn. 3:19-21).

In Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus used a physical example to teach His disciples about a certain spiritual quality. He had just told them that they were the salt of the earth, giving it a spiritual flavor, a preservative characteristic, and an antiseptic trait, which it should contain. Now He tells them that they are the light of the world. Both “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world” applied only when His disciples followed His teachings. They apply to us only when we do the same by following His New Testament (Eph. 5:8).

Jesus Christ is the light of life (Jn. 1:4, 7-9; 2 Tim. 1:10). He was a part of God before the creation of the world (Jn. 1:1-3; 10:30; Phil. 2:5-7; Heb. 1:1-3). As God’s Son on earth, and part of the human family, He perfectly obeyed His Father in heaven (Jn. 6:38; Heb. 5:8). When He teaches, it is God teaching mankind (Lk. 4:16-21; Jn. 1:14; 3:34-35; 7:16; 8:28-29). So, the words of Christ’s New Testament are light, bringing spiritual life to those who truly follow Him (Ps. 119:105, 130; Isa. 49:6; 60:20; Jn. 8:12; Acts 26:15-18; Eph. 5:14; 1 Jn. 1:7).

Light only benefits when it is seen. It should not be hidden. When we, as Christians, follow the light (teachings) of God seen in the New Testament, we receive blessings. And we make a difference in the world. His light shows us the path that we must travel (Jn. 14:6). It dispels many of our fears in this world (Rom. 8:31-39). Also, when we glow with the examples of His light, we help lead others to Him, and we bring glory to God (Phil. 2:15; 1 Thess. 5:5; Matt. 5:16; 28:19-20; Mk. 16:15-16; Dan. 12:3; 1 Cor. 11:1; 1 Tim. 4:12). Therefore, study the New Testament of Jesus Christ, obey Him, and be a light in the world!

“And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light” (Rom. 13:12-14).