Let your light shine before others

And he said to them, "Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand? For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear." (Mar 4:21–3)

Luke's Gospel helps us to understand what Jesus was saying:

"No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light." (Luk 8:16)

A major theme

Theme study—choosing a theme and tracing its development through Scripture—is a fascinating and rewarding method of Bible study. It shows us, apart from anything else, that even though the Bible is a compilation of many books written by many authors, it is, in reality, one book written by One author.

The Bible is God's message to mankind. It tells us of his love for us, and how we, as sinners, can be saved from his wrath through the death of his Son Jesus Christ (Rom 5:8–9). And one of its major themes is light, and its contrast and conflict with darkness.

As we saw in an earlier study, when God created the heavens and the earth, darkness was over the face of the deep. Darkness was there, but the Spirit of God was hovering over the darkness (Gen 1:1–2). What was the darkness? It was spiritual darkness.

And God said, "Let there be light", and there was light (Gen 1:3). Physical light wasn't created until the fourth day (Gen 1:14–9), so what was that light? It was spiritual light; and it came from Jesus Christ, the creator of the world (Joh 1:10) and the light of the world (Joh 8:12a).

At the beginning of the Bible we are shown what would happen, spiritually, at God's appointed time: the people dwelling in darkness would see a great light; for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, a light would dawn (Mat 4:16).

The true light, which gives light to everyone, would come into the world (Joh 1:9); and that light (Jesus Christ) would be the light that leads to eternal life (Joh 8:12b).

We are the light of the world

Jesus said:

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

While Jesus was in the world he was the source of spiritual light in the world. But he's now in heaven. Does that mean that the world is without spiritual light? No. He said to his disciples:

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (Mat 5:14–6)

Lamps are lit for one purpose: to provide light for people. We, the disciples of Jesus Christ, are now the light of the world. Jesus has lit us up so we can be the source of spiritual light on his behalf.

We must not hide our light: Jesus wants our light to be seen. How do we shine our light? By allowing people to see our good works. We testify to our relationship with Jesus Christ, not only by what we say, but also by what we do.

Walk as children of light

…for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true)… (Eph 5:8–9)

Before we knew Jesus Christ we lived in spiritual darkness. We were ignorant of God and under the domain of darkness (Col 1:13), doing works of darkness (Rom 13:12). But now we are light in the Lord. The fruit that God wants us to bear for him, as children of light, is doing and saying all that is good and right and true.

…and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. (Eph 5:10)

How do we discern what is pleasing to the Lord? By reading the Bible. God's Word tells us how to live so we can please him with our lives. The Bible says that God's Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Psa 119:105): it shows us how to walk in this spiritually dark world.

Silent witness

Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. (1Pe 3:1–2)

The Bible says that unsaved husbands can be brought to the Lord by observing the conduct of their wives. Is that true only with respect to wives and husbands? No, it's true for every one of us and for everyone we meet, because the way that we live shows the world that Jesus Christ is in us. Living a godly life is a powerful evangelistic tool.

There are many ways to bring people to faith in Jesus. Letting our light shine before them is one of those ways.

Michael Graham
September 2003
Revised July 2024

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