IS YOUR LIGHT SHINNING?

                                                                                                                                                                        By W. G. Guy

Matthew 5:14-16 –  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.   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.   Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

          Light is seen, a visible influence; thus when others see you do they see the Light of Christ shinning in and through you?  This question becomes more concerning when you endure problems, trials and tribulations; when things are not going well for you.  Do such conditions in your life diminish your light, or cause you to go into periods of darkness?

          Do these times of adversity cause you to “grumble, grumble, gripe, gripe”; as did Israel while spending forty years in the wilderness, which greatly displeased God.

Hebrews 3:8-11 – Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:  When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.  Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.   So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)

          Do you gripe and complain when you experience trials and struggles?

Philippians 2:14-15 –Do all things without murmurings and disputings:   That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

          We need to understand that trials and tribulations are a means of building faith and Godly character.

James 1:2-4 – My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;   Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.   But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
 
Romans 5:3-5 – And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;   And patience, experience; and experience, hope:  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

          We all experience afflictions, but by faith in God and His Word He takes us through them all.

Psalm 34:18-19 –  The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.   Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.

           Hope is a form of light that shines forth in you even when you are experiencing adverse situations.  Trials and tribulations experienced by true believers actually builds faith, endurance and character, traits that are easily seen by others; it is a form of light. It is a revelation that you have the ability and confidence in God’s love enabling you to stand and overcome.  Thus we are able to display to the world that we are built up into the full maturity of Christ, having His character and nature formed in us.  This is also the purpose of the Five Gift Ministries that much of the church rejects saying they are not for today.

Ephesians 4:11-13 – And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

          (Note: when did Jesus give these ministry gifts to men?  After He ascended to the Father in Heaven.  Ephesians 4:8 – Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.)

          Please don’t behave like the rest of the world and complain and gripe about your circumstances, having no hope of divine help; and don’t accuse God for your problems and losses.  Don’t let your light go out and be turned to darkness by being bitter and angry. 

           Don’t be like Israel in the wilderness, murmuring and complaining due to unbelief in what God promised in His Word.  As a result, they did not get to go in to the Promised Land.  A similar warning was made by Jesus concerning the Ten Virgins, (Matthew 25:1-12).  The five foolish virgins allowed their lights to go out; as a result they did not get to enter into what they assumed was theirs to experience.  They did not get to go into to join in the festivities.

Matthew 25:10-12 – And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.   Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.   But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

          Faith and faithfulness is the divine light that is to be seen in us as the children of God.  It brings about the revelation of Jesus Christ seen in we who truly believe, and in whom Christ is seen as we mature in Him.

1 John 3:1-2 – Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

          Jesus IS the light of the world; and as He is formed in us, we become His light in this world.  Is Jesus seen in you?  Is your light shinning?