Are the Lights On?

 September 9, 2024

Monday

It is easy to surmise that the world is committing more sins than at any other time. That may not be true. The world likes darkness rather than light. Light shines upon everyone’s works exposing them for what they are. Christians lived lives that reflected the light of Jesus which exposed evil. Therefore, like rats will scurry when the lights are on, the world hid its evil. It was still there; it just wasn’t as public as it is today.

It is also just as easy to assume that the world is more opposed to Christians and Christ than at any other time. After all, the Paris Olympics began with what many say is a parody of the Last Supper. (If it wasn’t a parody, the Paris committee who approved this opening ceremony didn’t try to prevent it from being interpreted as such. It reminds me of the child who says no one told him not to when he knew full well that he should do whatever it was he did.) Thus, people openly ridicule, denigrate, curse and blaspheme Jesus. However, this is exactly what happened in the New Testament. The soldiers who crucified Jesus ridiculed Him. They spat on Him and hit Him. They treated Him like the religious leaders of the day in looking down on Him. They thought, as the world does today, that the world will be better off without Him.

So, the world is exposing itself for what it really would like to do. Thus, the need for Christ is as vital as it ever was. The Church fell asleep while the world complied with what it wanted. Now, the world is saying that it has no need of the Church, Christians, or Christ. It has said that before. The Church rose up with the testimony of the reality of Christ. Many in the world gave their lives to and for Christ. The world was turned upside down.

Will the Church meet the call again? Many are just hoping for Christ to return so that they won’t need to stand up for Christ. In fact, most Christians seem to be seated right now. They seem to be glad they are going to heaven. The rest of the world can go to hell.

Before we condemn the world or just allow the world to be condemned, we should ask ourselves how we have shined the light of Christ in the world today. Who did we tell our salvation story to? Who did we encourage to live for Christ? Are we living in a way that reflects the love of Christ?

Yes, Jesus may return before the world will turn around. That isn’t the point. If Jesus comes today, how will He see you shining His light? 

Matthew 5:13-16 (ESV) ¹³  “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. ¹⁴  “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵  Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. ¹⁶  In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.