Light In The Dark

The Bible says that we are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14), and yet we spend so much time with “other lights” that it hardly seems worth being a light at all. We have churches, youth groups, Sunday schools, Christian schools, Christian playgroups, small groups, bible study groups, Christian book clubs, Christian sporting teams, and a myriad of other “Christian” associations. All of these things are good and beneficial, but each one seems to take us out of the world that we are supposed to be reaching.

A light cannot serve its entire purpose if it is in a room full of other lights. A light is much more effective in the darkness where there are no (or few) other lights.

The dark places are outside of our church walls – in the homes of our community, in the public schools and sporting clubs, in the playgroups and craft clubs, in the local businesses and shopping centres. These people need the light that we carry; they need the hope that we bring; they need the peace and love that should ooze out of us with every word and action.

I believe we should be meeting with other “lights” to reignite us when we grow dim, to encourage us in those times when the darkness seems too much. But I believe that we will never serve our entire purpose as followers of Jesus until we step out of the “light” zones and begin to penetrate the darkness that is engulfing our world. If we can be even a small reflection of the light of Jesus, we can begin to illuminate the lives of those around us, and that is the first step to changing the world.