By Sharon Griffin, General WMB Coordinator
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16).
Without the Cross there would be no light, but when the Heavenly Father sent His Son, SONLIGHT came to this world. When He entered this world, the light began to pierce the darkness. The SONLIGHT began to shine brightly throughout the darkness of this world. Never would this world be the same again. The SONLIGHT had come! Jesus said, “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness” (John 12:46). Jesus also said, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (John 9:5).
Jesus did not intend for the light to go out after His departure from this world; therefore, Jesus said, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid” (Matt. 5:14). Jesus intended for His Church to be that light and to continue shining forth in this dark, dark world. Jesus referred to His Church as “the light of the world.” We are only that light because of Christ abiding in us and shining through us. We can never shine without the SONLIGHT living within us! Then and only then, are we the light of the world! Without Christ, the Church cannot shine. He is the reason she shines, and without Him and His presence, she is as dark as the world she is in! If we want to shine more brightly, we need more of the SONLIGHT within! He IS the light! There is no other source of light; He is the true light that gives light and life to all. The more we become like Christ, the more He shines within us and through us, and the greater the light of the Church shines before all men. The greater our light, the greater our Father in heaven is glorified. Our desire should be to shine brighter and brighter.
We have a great job to do as the Body of Christ. We have been commissioned to take the Gospel message to every nation under heaven. We are commissioned to penetrate the darkness of every nation and to carry the light and let it shine in even the smallest and darkest of places. The nature of light is to shine. It cannot do its job and awaken the lost if it is placed under a bushel. Within the tabernacle in the Old Testament, there was a golden candlestick that was placed just outside the Holy of Holies and tended by Aaron and his sons. Their job was to make sure the light never went out. The lamp stand within the tabernacle was to burn brightly “fromevening to morning.” Its source of fuel was pure olive oil. Aaron and his sons did not let down on their job. Night and day, they would take the oil and light the golden candlestick and the flame of light would continue to illuminate throughout the tabernacle; never was there a second where darkness was allowed to enter into the tabernacle of God!
As the Body of Christ, it is the responsibility of every member to make sure the candlesticks of our souls are never allowed to go out. Like Aaron and his sons, from evening until morning, we must keep our candles burning brightly! If we do, the City of God will be seen shining brightly in a dark world as a city upon a hill that CANNOT be hid! When the SONLIGHT IS SHINING IN US, THROUGH US, AND ALL-AROUND US, souls will be drawn by the brightness of His Light!
The lamp of God must never be allowed to go out in the House! We have a world to illuminate with the SONLIGHT! The world needs to know that SONLIGHT has come to bring salvation and peace to the lost.
“Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee” (Isa. 60:1).
As the Church of God shines, the world will behold the SON! She will reflect Christ and all His brightness!
Shine, Church of God, Let your light shine with the SONLIGHT!