We have multiple light sources—some natural and some manmade. Natural light sources include the sun, moon, stars, and lightning. Manmade light sources include candles, lamps, light bulbs, etc. But there is another light source that I would like to talk about, and that light source is us. By us, I mean you and me. Jesus says, “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.” (Matt 5:14-16, NKJV).

Once we become born-again believers, we are light. We have no say in this matter, and neither can we resign from or rescind our role as light. When Jesus says, “Ye are the light of the world”, He is not asking us if we want to be light. He is telling us that we are light. Hence, we can only do what light is supposed to do: shine. Now, whether the light we emit is bright or dull is up to us, but just know that either way, we are leading people towards or away from God.

Jesus compares light to a city set on a hill. A city that is built on a hill cannot be hidden. It is always visible, day or night. The city’s location inherently makes it visible to all. Similarly, because we are light, our very nature or who we are in Christ, makes us visible to the world.

Letting your light shine means demonstrating good behavior, attitude, actions, and responses through which, we lead others to Christ. Ultimately, the purpose of being light is to lead others to Christ or as Jesus said to glorify your Father which is heaven. Now, here is an example of how we can bring glory to God through our actions, attitude, behavior, and responses.

Mathew 5:11-12 says, “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”

The response to persecution according to Jesus is to rejoice and be exceeding glad. Unbelievable, right? Well, it is the Word. However, this response is just the opposite of what people expect or even what we would probably do. The reality is when people revile us, persecute us, and say all manner of evil against us falsely, they expect us to retaliate. It is human nature to do so, but as children of God, regardless of what we experience, we must let our lights shine because, at the end of the day, we do not want our attitude, behavior, actions, and responses to mimic, for example, the moon’s role during a solar eclipse. Let me explain.

During a solar eclipse, the moon passes between the sun and the earth. At that moment, we can have a partial solar eclipse or a total solar eclipse. In a partial solar eclipse, the moon only blocks part of the sun’s light. In a total solar eclipse, the moon blocks all the sun’s light. The result of a solar eclipse whether partial or total is darkness during the day because the moon is preventing the sun’s light from reaching the earth. As such, the moon acts as a barrier between the sun and the earth. Likewise, our attitude, behavior, actions, and responses can become a barrier to people who want to know Jesus. Therefore, let us not play the role of the moon in a solar eclipse. Let us not be the barrier that prevents people from coming to God. Let us not cast a shadow or darkness on people’s path to God but rather let us do what light is supposed to do. Let us:

• Cancel out darkness/evil by doing good
  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (Matthew 5:44)
  
  But, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink. If you do this, you will make him feel guilty and ashamed.” Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil with good. (Romans 12:20-21, GW)

• Lead people to Christ
  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Glorify means praise and worship. (Matthew 5:16)

• Do what light does—Shine
  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. (Matthew 5:15)

• Reflect Jesus to the world
  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples if ye have love one to another. (John 13:34-35, KJV)