By Reverend J. Loren Russell, BA, MDiv
Matthew 5:14-16 NKJV
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 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. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Have you ever gone into dark room and couldn’t find the light switch? Can you remember fumbling around in the darkness desperately trying to find the switch that will take you out of the darkness and into the light? It might have been frustrating while you were groping in the dark, maybe a bit frightening. But when the light came on, the darkness disappeared, and you could see.
It’s an interesting thing about light and darkness; they cannot occupy the same space at the same time. Either it’s dark or it’s light, but never both in the same space.
Jesus is talking to a great number of people from a mountainside pulpit and pronounced several blessings that we call “The Beatitudes.” He taught great truths in this “Sermon on the Mount” about being blessed and gives an explanation for each one of those blessings.
The Beatitudes describe the essential character for citizenship in God’s earthly kingdom and the influence the citizens have in the world. In verse 13, Jesus talks about those citizens as being the salt of the earth. We think of salt as that element that adds flavor to our food and increases our blood pressure, if we use too much salt or use it too often. We also know about salt being used a preservative.
My research revealed that salt is said to be useful in more than 14,000 ways. Jesus said that we are the “salt of the earth.”
He also says that we are the light of the world. When we are disciples of Christ, who is the light of the world (John 8:12), His light shines in and through us to illumine a dark world. People watch our behavior, they listen to our language, they watch where we go and what we do. When we walk in the darkness as lights, the darkness must vacate the space. Light and darkness cannot inhabit the same space at the same time. There is no co-habitation between light and darkness. Jesus told us that whenever we let our light shine “before men, they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Any of us may have grappled in the darkness our entire life and never thought that we would see the light of day. But I contend that the Lord has been bringing us to “the” light and has plans to make us become a part of that light. I contend that you and I are the ones whom Isaiah speaks of (9:2) when he wrote, “The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined.”
Now that the light is on, it has consumed the darkness in our lives. Now it’s up to us to let our light shine at our work, in our families, among our friends, and any and every place we go. This is what happens when the light is on!
God Bless +++
Rev. J. Loren Russell is an associate minister at both Goodwill and The Greater Universal Baptist Churches in the Bronx, President/CEO of The JLR Company for Church Financial &. Strategic Consulting, and hosts “Matters of Faith – The Radio Show” on Soul 1 Radio, Mondays 8:00 – 10:00 PM. Listen by phone” at 626-226-1448. Be sure to Friend “Matters of Faith” on Facebook and email us at mattersoffaith.mof@gmail.com. Order your copy of Matters of Faith: The Book at cash.me/$Mattersoffaith – $22.88 (includes shipping).
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