Pen Pulpit

‘YE ARE THE LIGHT”
Matthew 5:14-16
March 3rd, 2000


Christians are called “light” in Scripture. Light is what we are. We are a functioning entity as light in this world of darkness - a foreign influence in a natural environment of spiritual darkness (Ephesians 5:8, Philippians 2:15, I Peter 2:9).

Where do we get the name or title “light”?

• God is called light (I John 1:5). Essentially this is what God is!

. . . Intellectually, light is truth - darkness is error

. . . Morally and ethically, light is purity - darkness is evil

God is both absolute truth and He is morally pure and perfect.

• Jesus Christ claimed to be the “Light of the World” while He was here (John 9:5, 8:12). Truth and moral perfection are perfectly revealed in Christ.

• Christians become the representation of God in this world. We have received God’s own nature and His revelation.

What is our purpose as light?

• To be seen. This fact is illustrated by a city set upon a hill (Matthew 5:14) - and lights aren’t to be covered. The city on a hill is visible and prominent from every direction. The Christian is not only to be seen in the world but he is to be prominent! Not prominent in the sense of being famous - but prominent in the sense that you stand out as being different from others (Philippians 2:12. 13).

• To reveal hope for this world. “The lamp gives light to all who are in the house (Matt. 5:15)”. The lamp is beneficial in darkness. If the church is not benefiting the world in some way by our presence, then our light is hidden! The Church is God’s only contact with this world in terms of the redemptive purpose. What do men see when they look at the Church today? Do they see hope? Do they see people with answers? In many churches the light is covered - in some it has been extinguished (Revelation 2:5).

Our responsibility as light (Matthew 5:16).

• It is the Christian’s nature to display the grace of God - to shine for God. Now light doesn’t struggle to display its radiance. If the bulb is plugged into the power source it just shines. If you are properly plugged into the power source, you shine. However, you can hinder that radiance (Ephesians 5:3-14).

• We are to let our light shine before men - in the world of business, in the world of politics, in the world of sports, in our social world, in our family relations.

• Our light is seen by our good works (Ephesians 2:8-10, Titus 2:14, 3:8). The good works of a Christian are works that are different in quality and in motivation from those of the unbeliever.

• We are to move men toward God (Matthew 5:16b). We glorify God when we attribute worth to Him by what we say and what we do.

Remember - in order to function properly as light you have to stay close to the power source!


Love to you all.

--Pastor Charles Covington 1933-2006