Reflect the Light

We have already talked about the importance of recognizing the light and receiving the light. Today, we will discuss reflecting the light. Not only should we take care to recognize the light and receive the light, we must also be sure to Reflect the Light. That has been God's plan all along; His followers reflecting His light for His glory and mankind's good. This has been His plan all along, even for Israel. The prophet Isaiah wrote in Isaiah 42:6-7 "I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness." Again in Isa 49:6 he said, "It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth." This is his plan for us as well. Jesus said in John 9:5 "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." He is no longer in this world, so where is the light? When we receive Jesus, he shines in and through us. As He taught in Matt 5:14-16, "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. " We must reflect the light for His glory

We bring him glory when we shine the light. If Jesus is the light of the world, and men live in darkness rather than that light, we not only do a disservice to them….we do a disservice to the light who is not being seen as the light. If Jesus is the Lord of all lords, and there are men and women living outside of his authority and lordship, we must call them to repentance or we do them a great disservice, and a disservice to the Lord who is not being honored as lord. If Jesus is the way to the Father, and there are men and women wandering around lost, we must show them the way or we do them a disservice, and we do him, who came to be the way, a disservice as well. If Jesus is the truth, and there are people believing lies, we must share with them the truth or they will continue believing a lie and Jesus, the truth, will not be believed in as he should be. If Jesus is the life, and there are people who are living under the sentence of death, hell, and the grave, we must offer them the life found in Christ for their good and for His glory. After all, if Jesus came to deliver them from death, hell, and the grave, and they do not receive it, then he is being dishonored. If Jesus is who he claimed to be and there are people who are not walking in the light, who are living as rebels, lost, believing a lie, and destined for a death they don't have to die…we must bring them to Him for His glory. He deserves their praise and recognition…and if he is not getting it, let us go tell. In the words of Acts 13:47 "For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, 'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth."

We must recognize the true light and understand what it means to receive it. Finally we must reflect it. The problem with sinful and depraved humanity is, we are like roaches. As long as there is darkness in a room, the roaches will come out and crawl across the countertops, along the walls, and even on the ceilings. Let the light be turned on however, and they will scurry into nooks and cracks everywhere to escape the light. We, as sinful men and women have a tendency to do the same. The light is placed on a stand and we retreat. Jesus said in John 3:19-21 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been carried out in God." Open up the Word of God. Read the Gospel of John. Search for the light of the world like it is your first time, even if you have known Him for decades. Go after the light, deal with what He exposes, but do not run from the light. Run to the light so that your whole body may be full of light!

Until next time....