A puzzle confronts the readers of the New Testament who discover that Jesus said to His disciples in Matthew 5:14, You are the light of the world. Yet in John 8:12, Jesus said, I am the light of the world. To further complicate the matter John says, God is light (1 John 1:5). What appears to be a riddle is not one at all. The moon provides light for the earth just as the sun does. Yet, the source of light for both the sun and the moon is the sun. The moon reflects the light of the sun. By the same token, Jesus, the God-man, is the source of all light. We should shine the redeeming light of Christ in this darkened world.
Jesus said, You are the light of the world. You are it--the light.
Therefore, our light is to be placed where its influence can best be used and felt. The light of believers should light every home and hamlet, city, state and nation--the whole world.
What a gigantic tribute! God is light; Christ is light; the believer is the light of the world. We are what God and Christ are--light. No greater compliment could be paid to us. Paul exhorts us to be blameless and innocent, children of God, above reproach, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world (Philippians 2:15, NASB).
For many at her office, Kathleen DeSoto's brightness is the catalyst for people's faith encounters. DeSoto, an actuary and manager for an investment firm, leads a Bible study on her lunch hour and listens attentively to co-workers as she tells them about Christ.
"My office is my mission field," she says. "Non-Christians want to become Christians if our lives are joyful.
I try to portray the joy of Christ in my life. Sometimes carrying my Bible to work opens conversations. And I invite new staff members to church.
It's encouraging to see people become involved and begin to stand for Christ."
It's hard to miss the light when a business is named The Master's Touch. For automotive body repairman Frank Smith, decorating his shop and office with evangelistic posters is a natural.
"Everything in here is used to glorify God. Customers definitely know what I'm about," Smith says. Shoptalk often turns to God talk when customers ask Who is the Master. Smith is quick to tell them that his skill for repairing damaged vehicles is nothing compared to Christ's ability to mend broken lives.
Howard Hendricks, a professor at Dallas Theological Seminary, says the greatest witness for Jesus Christ in Dallas that he ever met was not a preacher, but an ophthalmologist. But he hadn't always been so effective. He was active in an evangelical church for 12 years and had never led anyone to Christ. One day a group of college kids challenged him: "Hey, Doc, are you sharing your faith?"
"No, I'm not," he said. "I don't even know how."
They continued: "We've got a little training program. How about getting involved in it?"
"Count me in!" he answered.
They taught him how to share his faith. He became a committed witness and led people to Christ.
Later, when Hendricks was in a remote section of India, he told a group about this doctor but didn't use his name. When he had finished, an Indian doctor said: "You were talking about …" and called the doctor's name.
"How did you know?"
"I went to medical school in Dallas," the Indian doctor told him. "I went to see him about my eyes. He led me to Christ and discipled me."
Today that Christian is the only licensed neurosurgeon in his part of India. He has tremendous impact for Christ.
Unfortunately, many believers are "rabbit-hole" Christians. They pop out of their safe Christian houses, hold their breath at work, scurry home and then off to their Bible studies, ending the day praying for unbelievers they safely avoided.
Some believers are reluctant to witness because they do not feel their faith is adequate, or they fear they will not be able to answer difficult theological questions if asked. We are judged not by the degree of our light but by our faithfulness in shining the light.
Bob Reccord is president and CEO, North American Mission Board, SBC.