ALETHEIA: LIGHT OF THE WORLD

You’ve probably heard this phrase a time or two. It happens to be one of my favorite verses, but it’s almost always used out of context.

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16

Many people will take just the first part of this verse because it’s encouraging & affirming. After all, it’s telling us that we are light. Light is a symbol of truth, love, goodness, & righteousness. But is it telling us that we are symbols of truth, love, goodness, & righteousness? “By no means!” This goes against the doctrine of original sin & the fallen state of humanity. We are not the light of the world, Jesus is the Light of the world. It’s impossible for humanity to have His inherent Light. If you’re thinking: well I’m a Christian so I DO have this inherent Light. Er, wrong.

What we have is reflective light. When we look upon & cling close to the glory of the Lord, we reflect His Light which we radiate to the world around us. On our own, we are nothing. That’s why we have to make the intentional decision to pick up our cross every day to follow Christ to ensure that nothing comes between us & the Lord’s Light. If we drift from the Lord, our reflective light dims. If we put something before our relationship with the Lord, we prevent the Lord’s Light from permeating our lives.

The only thing that blocks us from receiving the Light is ourselves: our interests, desires, & demands. Even when temptations come our way, they aren’t the thing that stands between us & God until we act on them & pull them into ourselves. Hanging onto the things of this world—the things that appeal to our flesh—renders us incapable of receiving, delivering, & being infected by the Truth.