Title: A Reflection of Christ

Date: 2009-10-11

Reference: Matt. 5: 14-16

"An old allegory tells of an encounter between a cave and the sun. The cave lived underground and spent his time in total darkness. One day the cave heard a voice calling: “Come up into the light. Come and see the sun shine.” The cave replied: “There is nothing but the darkness.” Finally the cave ventured out and was surprised to see light everywhere. Looking up to the sun the cave said: “Come with me and see the darkness”

The sun entered the cave and said: “Now show me the darkness” but there was no darkness.

Jesus said to his followers: “Make your light shine, so that others will see the good you do and will praise your Father in Heaven.” When Jesus called us the light of the world, it was the highest compliment we could receive. Today we will dedicate this entire city block to Jesus Christ as a city set upon a hill.

Jesus didn’t say we could or would shine in the darkness and make a difference by sheer will power. Jesus said we would shine and make a difference by being related to Him.

In our world, the sun shines and is the light of the world. Way back in the very beginning God said: “Let there be light and there was light and God saw the light was good.” And God said: “I command lights to appear in the sky and to separate day from night and to show the time for seasons, special days, and years. God made two powerful lights, the brighter one to rule in the day and the other to rule the night.

By God’s design, the sun is the light of the world.

At night when the sun is brightening the other side of the earth, the moon becomes the light of the world. I’ve always enjoyed the full moons. Last Sunday night we had the most beautiful full moon. The moon was so bright that evening it almost looked like day outside. As bright as it is the moonlight is only reflected light. Whatever light the moon has comes from the sun.

In the same way, we Christians are called to be the light of this earth. Alone, we have no light to share. While Christ is away we are to reflect his light. In John’s Gospel Jesus said to a dark world that He was it’s light. But in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus says we are the light of the world. Years ago someone gave my son a glow in the dark cross. The instructions said “If you want me to shine at night, keep me in the sunlight all day.” Before the cross can shine in the dark it must be exposed to the light. We Christians must expose ourselves to the Son of God and take on his nature and then shine as lights in a dark world.

Jesus made two points about the light. First of all the light cannot be missed. He said a city set on a hill cannot be hidden. In Israel, then and now, many cities were build on hill sides for protection and for the cool sea breezes that acted like air conditioning in an arid land. The city on the hill is always in view. At night the glow of the city on the hill, can be seen from a distance. When we are the light of the world everyone should know it. It is impossible to reflect God’s light and remain obscure. We cannot hide God’s light. We cannot live light filled lives in our dark society without standing out. When we represent Christ we will be noticed. The world may not like us or appreciate us.

The world may even persecute us but the world will know we are present and accounted for.

We use light to help people see. When we buy a lamp we don’t cover it up. We put it where it will give light to everyone who enters the room. My mother is still using a lamp that was a wedding gift 62 years ago.

I don’t know how but it still works casting off light after all these years. Jesus said the world is covered in moral darkness and the only way for people to see clearly what matters is for us to become light to the world.

As light we give praise to God. Jesus didn’t say someone will see our good deeds and say what outstanding, marvelous, people we are. What we do points to God and sheds light on God’s grace.

When Stephen was being stoned we read in the book of Acts his face shone like that of an angel. Stephen probably didn’t even know his face was shining. People who live in the light are usually not conscious of our light. Next Sunday evening as we listen to the Wototo Children’s Choir you will see reflected light. The faces of those children glow with God’s love and light. And you cannot help but notice. People who reflect light don’t brag about how bright they are. Rather Christians are aware of our own darkness and know how much we need God.

Whatever business we are in. Whatever we are doing during the week what really matters is that we will represent Christ and reflect his love into our situation, that we will be light. It is absolutely imperative that light shines in the darkness. Sometimes we may feel lonely in the world.

You may be the only Christian in the school or in the dept. or in the office. The natural tendency is to withdraw. In that situation we want to draw as little attention to ourselves as possible. We know we are called to let our light shine.

That is our purpose for being here. God needs our light where the world is the darkness. The blacker the night the greater the need for light.

If we don’t shine it’s not because of the darkness. Darkness can never put out a light. If the darkness increases until it’s as black as a cave, it’s still not dark enough to extinguish a light. No one has ever smothered a light by increasing the darkness. Darkness gets darker because the lights fail. The other evening after Wed. Night Bible Study, I came out of the church into the back parking lot and it was pitch black. It took me a minute to realize why it was so dark. For some reason, our church signs were not lighted. It wasn’t any darker than it usually is at that time of night, the sign was not doing it’s job. We fixed the problem and the next evening the parking lot was illumined again. When we fail to reflect Christ’s light we let the darkness win.

Jesus didn’t call us to be magnificent chandeliers for people to admire. He called us to be a single bulb in the back hall to keep people from stumbling around in the darkness. Jesus called us to make a difference in the darkness where we are needed.

Sometimes I think of the inner city as being a dark, dangerous place. Some years ago the mayor of a large city launched a light for the night campaign. Residents of the city were urged to leave lights burning overnight to discourage crime. For a time crime was greatly reduced. We are fortunate in Pueblo to have such a nice city center, one we are all very proud of.

It is so important for the church to have a presence in the city, for Christ to be represented. All across the country city churches are struggling and many are moving out to population centers. It may be a bit more challenging for us to do our work in the city but this is where Christ needs our light to shine.

Today we will hold a prayer walk around this entire city block to dedicate this block for Christ. Light reveals God. Light produces fruit. Light also exposes what is wrong. This is our task.

One of the things that impressed me most in Korea last year were the many red crosses all across the city skyline. Each red cross marked a church. When darkness fell it was so inspiring and comforting to see the many crosses dotting the sky line.

This was a reminder that the church was very well represented in that place.

We were never called to withdraw from the world but to be a witness to the world.

We are never to hide ourselves but to live and work in places where our influence can be felt. We disciples are light in the world, not calling attention to ourselves but pointing the way to God. We obtain our light from the one who is the Light of the World. Light dispels the darkness simply by being present. We know how it is better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness. Our motive is for others to see our good works and to give glory to God.

I just finished reading the letter to the Colossians. In that letter Paul said: “We Christians have been delivered from the power of the darkness and brought into the light of Christ. So whatever you do or say, let it be done as a representative of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

In 17th century England the government taxed fresh air and sunlight by making a levy against all houses with eight or more windows. I’m glad our government hasn’t thought of this yet. The light of Christ is free to us for the asking. But once we receive it we are called to represent Christ and to bring His light to the world around us. The Bible tells us “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.” And “We are called to be a light for the people of this world.” May we always be faithful in doing so. "