Do everything without grumbling and arguing so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world. Hold firmly to the message of life. Then I can boast in the day of Christ that I didn’t run or labor for nothing. But even as I am poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. In the same way you should also be glad and rejoice with me. Philippians 2:14-18 HCSB
You’ve heard me talk a lot about how the devil wants to destroy our witness. When we speak of our witness we are speaking of what others see in us. While we can tell people all day long with our mouths and our voice about how we love God and all the wonderful things He has done for us, our everyday living is what tells the true story. The world around us is darkened by sin and corruption. God calls on us to bring light into the world through our relationship with Jesus Christ and our witness, which hopefully draws others to Him. It’s kind of like the part in poltergeist where the woman is calling little Carol Ann to go to the light. You see when we are in the dark and stumbling around we are looking for light. So, as Christians, it is important that we let our light shine like a beacon in this dark world.
Luke 8:16-17 says, “No one, after lighting a lamp, covers it with a basket or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand so that those who come in may see its light. For nothing is concealed that won’t be revealed, and nothing hidden that won’t be made known and come to light.” Take a minute to think about where the lights are in your house. Do you have any lights under the bed? Do you have any lights under a basket? I am guessing not. The reason being is that we use light to guide us and to work around our house. So what good would the light do if it is hidden. In the same way, once we are saved, we are not to hide our salvation. We are to use it like a beacon to draw others to God. The other important thing to remember is that nothing is hidden and if we try to hide it, it doesn’t stay hidden. Luke 12:3 says, “Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in an ear in private rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.”
The bottom line here is that nothing is hidden from God and eventually God will see to it that it is not hidden from others. So let your light shine for good. Let the whole world know that you stand firm in your faith. Let them know that you serve a living God that brings you comfort, peace, and joy in a world that is full of sin and corruption.
If we are stumbling around grumbling and complaining like those poor Israelites that I have spoken of many times, we look like everyone else. We aren’t leading anyone to Christ because they are looking at us and saying, “Wow, they are as miserable as I am”. Now let’s just say that you have been inviting that co-worker to church or encouraging a friend in hard times to turn to God. What do you think they will think when they see you with no peace, no joy and grumbling and arguing and complaining just like them and everyone else? Well I can tell you what I would think. I would think why should I waste my time and effort going to church and praying and reading my Bible? Look, where it got them.
I encourage you today to be very mindful of your witness. Know that if you are saved, that God saved you to reach out to others. Perhaps you are not yet comfortable sharing your testimony with others, but that shouldn’t stop you from letting your little light shine. When we are stumbling around in darkness we are searching for a light. I pray that you will be the light that guides someone to Jesus. Make it your prayer today that God will put someone in your path that will be guided by your light.
If you are reading this and you are not sure if you are headed to heaven to spend eternity with your Heavenly Father, know that you can be sure. Look for that beacon of light. Look for that person that lives their life putting others first and doing God’s work. Speak to them, a pastor, or a trusted Christian friend. Go toward the light that leads us all home.
Have a great day!