“IT’S PAST TIME TO SHINE OUR LIGHTS”

By Temeka Atkinson

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16 NKJV)

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.” (Ephesians 5:8-13 NKJV)

“I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.” (John 9:4 NKJV)

Hello fellow servants of Christ. I want to talk about the supernatural light that every believer has been given by God to overcome the darkness in this world and our responsibility to use it in the earth, especially now.

The current anemic and apathetic state of people, society and the world at-large makes it appear as if the current believers in the earth have ‘fallen asleep at the wheel’, and the world is ‘skidding off the proverbial tracks’. The amount of sin and wickedness that is out in the open is concerning and alarming to say the least. We must remember that as God’s children, we were never meant to coast by after salvation. God calls us to continually spread the gospel message in the earth, demonstrate to others how to live holy and acceptable lives before Christ, and to destroy the works of darkness which are authored by the devil.

The Bible explains that Jesus stepped out of eternity and was born into the earth in a human body. He came to save a world full of people drowning in sin and wickedness. He was born to be a bridge for humanity back into right relationship with God the Father since humanity had lost relationship and fellowship with God due to the disobedience of Adam and Eve in the Garden.

Because of Jesus’ obedience to the Father’s will, He gave His perfect, sinless life as a final atonement/payment for all of humanity’s sins. Because of what took place at the Cross, we can now be reconciled back to God through salvation found only in His Son.

In the Gospel of John, Chapter 1, verses 4 and 5 the Bible says, “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not seize it.” In John Chapter 8, Jesus calls Himself the ‘Light of the World’. In the Book of Matthew 5, Jesus called His disciples to Himself and He taught them, saying, “You are the light of the world…Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Jesus knew that He would eventually return to heaven, and He wanted to in essence ‘pass the torch’ to His twelve disciples and prepare them to carry supernatural light within themselves to illuminate the path of righteousness and expose the darkness of sin in the earth so that people would repent and accept salvation through a relationship with Jesus. It’s because of their obedience to Christ, we have heard and received the good news of the Gospel and have believed on Jesus unto salvation. So, now the supernatural light of Christ resides in us as His current children and disciples in the earth. What are we doing with that light?

God specifically left examples in His Word for us to know what to do and what not to do. He has given us instruction, guidance, and encouragement in the form of His holy Word. He describes His Word (the Bible) as living and powerful,also sharper than any two-edged sword with the ability to reveal the things of the spirit from the things of the natural. He also left us with power through Holy Spirit who is in the earth and resides in every believer who has accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Through God we have been given power over humanity’s greatest foe, Satan, the deceiver who has the whole world in darkness. However, God’s earthly children have been called out of our former darkness and into God’s marvelous light in order for us to see and receive the things of God in spirit.

The Gospel of Luke Chapter 19, verse 10 tells us that, “The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.” He came to earth with the message of salvation– Be reconciled to God. In 2 Corinthians 5:20, He charges us as His ambassadors in the earth, with imploring humanity to be reconciled to God. We are to shine our lights as living epistles, walking out the Word of God in our daily lives, as examples before the unrighteous and unbelieving in the earth. Many people will never enter a church or listen to a Christian sermon, but how we live our lives in obedience to God’s Word can be the message that introduces them to a relationship with the true and living God through Jesus Christ. That’s why how we walk out our faith is so important.

If we aren’t sure how to introduce others to Jesus or live a holy, sacrificial life before God, we must remember that God made us and He knows everything about us. His Holy Spirit is always available to lead us and minister to our spirit what the will of our Father is for our lives. God knows what He has placed in us that He can use to help us minister to someone else. So, even if we feel like we’re not strong in the faith, or we’re not worthy to be used of God, He is able and willing to strengthen us so our supernatural lights can shine bright for His glory.

The Bible is full of examples of other believers shining their lights in obedience to God in order to obtain the promises of God and the victory, such as:

1–John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus who preached a gospel of repentance. (Luke: 3:2-2-6;John 3:1-3)

2–Abram who was renamed Abraham by God after he obediently left his people and homeland in response to God’s call; therefore becoming the father of our faith. (Genesis 17: 1-7)

3– David, a man after God’s own heart, who went from a lowly shepherd boy who had the courage to fight one-on-one against a giant in defense of the Lord; to the anointed and appointed king of Israel. (1 Samuel 17:1-50; 1 Samuel 13:13-14)

4– Young Esther, who after gaining favor to become queen in a foreign land, was in position to save the her people, the Jews for such a time as was needed. (Esther 2:16-18; 4:14)

5– Paul who was once called Saul, transformed from oppressor and adversary of Christians, into the apostle to the Gentiles after Christian conversion on the Damascus road. (Galatians 1:11-24)

Our God has given us all that we need to live a godly and holy life. We just have to surrender our will to God and repent from sin so that we can get closer with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He has given us power over all the power of the enemy. So, even though we wrestle against spiritual wickedness as explained in the Book of Ephesians Chapter 6, we still have the victory through our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Our forerunner Jesus is now a first fruit of those raised from the dead, but before Calvary, He had three and a half years of ministry in which He taught His disciples, followers, and those that believed and now believe on His name how to live in a fallen world. He is our example of how to talk, walk, and do the things that please God. As the Holy Spirit continues His regenerative life changing work in us, He is molding us into the image of the Lord Jesus Christ. As our Lord was always about His Father’s business in the earth, so should we also be.

Scriptures for Reflection

2 Chronicles 7:14

John 3:16

John 14:6

John 8:12

Hebrews 12:24

1 Peter 2:9

2 Peter 1:3

Dear Reader—

I pray this blog has been encouraging. Please know that the intention of this blog is to encourage you as we walk out our Christian faith together. It is not intended to replace God’s Holy Word, neither could it ever do so. The Bible is the inspired Word of God lovingly given to us to teach, convict, correct, and instruct us in righteousness. God’s Word is living, active, and powerful. It will never pass away.

As your sister in Christ, I pray God’s continued blessings and covering over you and your family. May He strengthen you and give you peace as you journey.

Always His,

Temeka