Sermon on the Mount part 6

Salt and Light: Being Light Matthew 5:14-16

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

Have you ever been in total darkness before? I’m not talking about a dark night. Even on a dark night the stars and moon give off some light. I am talking about a total blackout. Several years ago, I was on a group tour spelunking. BTW, this is NOT something I usually do as I’m just a bit claustrophobic, but someone talked me into it. We got to about the middle of our tour when our guide told us to stand very still and turn out our lights. (This is NOT what a claustrophobic person wants to hear!) As soon as the lights went out, a thick darkness settled over us. It was unsettling and I felt like I was being closed in from all sides. It was absolutely dark. After what seemed like hours, (really only a few seconds), the guide turned his light back on. Everybody instantly turned toward the light. Not just our heads. Our whole bodies moved like the light was a magnet. That light literally shattered the darkness, and the darkness could not overcome it. Jesus said, “You are the light of the world.” As I thought about His statement, I couldn’t help but think of that cave experience. The lack of light was disquieting and stressful, while the light gave us a sense of peace. It also attracted our full attention. We couldn’t help but look at it. And this is what we should be as believers in THE light of the world. We should be peacemakers and, have the light of Christ so everyone around us will know God.

In looking at light throughout the Bible, I began to discover several interesting things. First, light was in the beginning of creation. Second, light was used in many of Jesus’ parables. Third, the nation of Israel was to be a light to the nations. Fourth, light is an integral part of the tabernacle and temple of the Lord. And finally, Jesus refers to Himself as the light of the world.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.” (Genesis 1:1-3 HCSB) At the beginning of creation, God turned the lights on. Before this, it was dark – like the cave I was in. Pitch black. No light. When God created light, He forever banished darkness. So now, even on the darkest of nights there is light, as the moon reflects the light of the sun, and the stars shine their light. God created something that could not be squelched. It doesn’t matter how much darkness there it, it can’t put out the light.

In looking through the many parables that are recorded throughout the gospels, two in particular got my attention with their examples of light. First is the parable of the 10 virgins, and the other is the parable of the lost coin. In the parable of the 10 virgins there were five foolish women and five wise women. Back in biblical times, light wasn’t something easily turned on like today. No flipping a switch! Instead, you had lamps that needed to be trimmed and they needed oil. In the parable the groom was running a bit late so the lamps had to kept lit longer than anticipated. The wise women brought extra oil while the foolish women left their extra oil at home. When the groom showed up the foolish women had to run home to get the oil and ended up missing the party. Then there is the parable of the woman who lost her coin. She first lights a lamp to find it. After all, nothing can be found in the dark. There are so many lessons to be learned in these two parables, but the thing that stands out to me is, you have to have light. Light will help you find your way. It will help you find lost things. It guide you to the right place. Proverbs 6:23 reminds us that a command is a lamp, teaching is a light and corrective discipline is the way to life. But whatever you do, don’t leave the extra oil at home or you will miss the party!

Isaiah 60 says, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord shines over you. For look, darkness covers the earth, and total darkness the peoples; but the Lord will shine over you, and His glory will appear over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your radiance.” Again Isaiah 42:-7 says, “I, Yahweh, have called You for a righteous purpose, and I will hold You by Your hand. I will keep You and appoint You to be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations, in order to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the dungeon,and those sitting in darkness from the prison house. And Isaiah 49:6 says, “He says, “It is not enough for you to be My Servant raising up the tribes of Jacob and restoring the protected ones of Israel. I will also make you a light for the nations, to be My salvation to the ends of the earth.” Israel was called to be a light to the nations. Why? To open the blind eyes, to release the prisoners, to bring people to salvation. God promised the nation of Israel that they would be a light to the world and that nations would come to the light and find God. All glory and honor to Him who Was, who Is and who Is To Come! When Jesus made his statement, You are the light of the world, you know that the listeners had to recall these scriptures in Isaiah. Their purpose was being called into action. And it is our purpose as well. Jesus calls us to be a light in the world – so that all men might be drawn to the light of Christ.

The light in the temple was a Menorah and was to be kept burning continually. A Menorah is a lampstand that has 3 branches on each side making 7 lamps altogether. The 7 lamps remind us of several things. The 6 days of creation and the 7^th day when God rested. The gift of the Shabbat, the day of rest and worship that God bestowed on us. The light of creation. And, as with all the elements in the temple, it symbolizes the Messiah, who is the light of the world and who was with God during creation. John 1:1-9 reminds us of this when it says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created. Life was in Him, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, yet the darkness did not overcome it. There was a man named John who was sent from God. He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. The true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.” And in case you wondered where John gets this, Jesus says in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life. The Menorah is the symbol of Christ, the true light of the world. A light that is continuous, it will never go out. He is eternal.

Of the light, Jesus says, “no one puts a light under a basket, but puts it on a lampstand to light up the whole house.” Are you singing it yet? I know I am. This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. The second verse we always sang was: Hide it under a bushel NO, I’m gonna let it shine. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. The light is not there to be hidden. It is there to shine.

A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Have you ever seen the lights of a city as you are driving down the interstate. You know your destination is getting closer and closer as the lights get brighter. Those lights are comforting, especially on a dark and lonely road. Growing up in Idaho, my missionary parents would drive from Boise to Mountain Home a few times a year. It was one of those dark and lonely roads. It was always good to see the light of the city as we approached our destination. I remember one particular night when we were on our way back to Boise. It was snowing so hard we couldn’t see anything at all. It was a whiteout. The problem was, when you are driving in one you don’t want to stop along the side of the road. You have to keep going. I remember my mom was driving and we just prayed. Then we saw it. The red lights of the back of a big semi. We knew if we just followed the light, we would be okay. Slowly, we drove for a long time. Then the lights of a small town appeared in the distance. We made it to safety, (and a piece of pie in a diner too!)

We are to be a light to the world so that as people follow the light, they will find THE light of the world. And all glory will be to the Father and creator of heaven and earth. So let your light shine and lead them to the party!

Questions to Ponder

1. Is your light shining so that others will see Christ? 2. Did you pack extra oil so your light won’t run out? 3. Are you following the light, knowing that He will lead you home?