Matthew 5:14 – You are the light of the world, a city set upon a hill that cannot be hid.
Satan may be the god of this world and the ruler of the power of the atmosphere, but God’s people are the light! As the light of the world, we overthrow the darkness and cancel it out even more than the sun when it rises in the morning. We are a city set upon a hill in force and power, and our place cannot be overrun. We have been given the power to change the very atmosphere of people’s lives. We bring love where there was hate; joy where there was sorrow; peace where there was strife and envy; healing where there was sickness and disease; righteousness where there was sin; forgiveness where there was envy and bitterness; mercy where there was intolerance; and life where there was death.
We are commanded by God to be the light of the world. There is nothing that the light of God represents more than His Presence. God’s will is for every man to see the light of His Presence through our good works; and as a result, glorify our Father Who is in Heaven (Matthew 5:16). We are able to convey this glorious light of life because we follow Jesus (John 8:12). Therefore, God has set us as a light for the Gentiles, so we may bring salvation to the ends of the Earth (Acts 13:47, 26:23; Isaiah 42:6, 49:6). As those who are the children of the day and the children of the light, we are commanded to live as the children of light (Ephesians 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:5; 1 John 1:7). It is, therefore, essential that we are clothed with the armor of light so that no darkness finds any manifestation in us (Romans 13:12; 2 Corinthians 6:14; Galatians 5:16; 1 John 5:18-21).
The idea that we were ever called to a quasi-monastic lifestyle is clearly not the case. God has purposed that, as the light of the world, we penetrate every realm of darkness with His Presence. Wherever men are gathered together in the darkness of this world, we are to arise and shine in the brightness and splendor of God’s glory (Matthew 5:14-16, 6:9-13; Isaiah 60).
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
