Shine as The Light

"As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." (John 9:5)

The message posted (receiving hearts and thumbs up reactions) was to stay close to people who shine as light. Why should what seems a reasonable statement be disturbing?

 

A porch light left on after dark is beneficial, but it could also pose a problem. Light attracts insects of all kinds and sizes. Because light not only attracts but draws insects to its glow, a "bug-zapper" is handy. Its light is more tempting than the porch light, for it "woos" the unsuspecting to "come closer," seducing them to their death. The point? Scripture warns us that Satan transforms himself into an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14).

Satan—the devil and enemy of our soul—convincingly masquerades as an angel from God. His goal? Seduce and zap both believers and unbelievers with his irresistible attraction. For the children of God, he wants to steal joy, kill service for God's kingdom, and destroy testimonies; he wants those without Christ in their lives to stay in bondage. Stay close to people who shine as a light only if that light emulated is from the Holy Spirit within a believer. How will you recognize the difference? Only those who confess Jesus came in the flesh and is the Son of God have the Holy Spirit living within them and them in God (1 John 4:1–4, 15).

In the familiar Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7), Jesus declared, "You are the light of the world . . ." (Matthew 5:14). The Father’s Son, The Light, left this world; we are now that shining light because God chooses to dwell within those of us who belong to His family. We are to reflect God’s light, the light of hope, to a lost, darkened world.