Shed light so the world can see Jesus' reflection

My wife approves my church attire. Recently, having picked out everything but a shirt, I asked what shirt to wear, to which she replied, “Cream.” As we loaded to go to church, she said my shirt was white instead of cream. I held something white against it and it certainly looked white. Shortly after we turned east into the sun, I

noticed that the shirt was clearly cream-colored. So, I exclaimed, “Hey, when light is shed on any subject, the truth comes out!”

Light is critical for many things. Light was the second act of creation after the earth itself and even existed days before the sun, moon and stars (Genesis 1:1-5, 14-19).

Actually, God is the ultimate light, and it’s likely the universe lit up upon his presence at creation. God is the source of light that brings about our salvation (Psalm 27:1; 2 Samuel 22:29). Satan uses darkness to keep people from seeing the truth that leads to salvation (2 Corinthians 4:3-7).

Jesus came to earth as light bringing God’s word of truth and dispelling the darkness of ignorance so we can understand the truth and be saved (John 1:1-5, 14, 17-18; 12:46; Isaiah 60:1, 19). While Jesus was in the world, he was the light of the world who revealed truth, but now he’s ascended back to heaven and assigned the light-shining responsibility to Christians, although we’re actually reflecting his light, as stated in 2 Corinthians 4:3-7, previously cited (John 9:5; Matthew 5:14-16).

To help Christians reflect Jesus, God gives us his Spirit to help us understand the truth that the world cannot fully comprehend (Acts

2:38-39; Galatians 3:26-29; 4:6-7; 1 Corinthians 2:6-16; Psalm 18:28).

For us to shine properly, we must live by the truth as our pattern of life (1 John 1:5-9; Galatians 5:16-25; Romans 6:1-8; Luke 11:33-36;

8:16).

This doesn’t mean we must be completely sinless, because we cannot. But others will realize that when we do sin, we’re acting out of the character we desire (Romans 7:14-25). When our light shines as it should, the world will even see how we deal with our own sin in a way that leaves no regret, and they might want that for their own conscience’s sake (Romans 8:8-17; 2 Corinthians 7:10; 4:2; 1 Peter 3:15-16).

We must understand not everyone wants to see the light of truth because it exposes the rebellious life they want to enjoy, however temporary that pleasure may be (John 3:19-21; 8:12; Hebrews 11:24-26).

God allows denial of the truth because he gives everyone the choice of becoming his child or not (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12; Acts 17:26-27; Joshua 24:14-15). We cannot let that deter us from maintaining a Spirit-led example because one never knows how, when or what might flip the light switch in someone’s mind (Luke 8:4-15; Ecclesiastes 11:1, 9-10; Isaiah 60:1, 19).

Are you shedding light so the world can see Jesus’ reflection and come to him? You might be the only way they’ll see the truth clearly.

Leonard Lauriault is a member of the Church of Christ in Logan who writes about faith for the Quay County Sun. Contact him at [email protected].