02.02.2021
IBC Admin
"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. And try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light."
Eph 5:8-14
In Ephesians 5:8, we are invited to "walk as children of light." Here we are reminded of our true identity in Christ and understand that in Christ our lives take on a new trajectory. Instead of reflecting "darkness" we are now to reflect the light of Jesus to a darkened world.
Jesus teaches in Matthew 5:13-16, that we “are the salt of the earth… and the light of the world.” We as believers are described as “a city set on a hill, that people may see our good works and glorify God in heaven.” The idea here is that our lives through Christ should have influence on the world around us for God’s glory.
That is one of the miracles of those who are followers of Jesus, as God changes us from the inside out, we become light and salt to a world that needs to hear about Him. And salt and light always changes what it touches. Salt preserves and improves the taste of food. Light enables us to see in a world that is often filled with darkness.
But Jesus also provides in the same context this warning, “If salt becomes tasteless, it is good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. If a lamp is put under a bed instead of on a post where it can be seen, it also is useless.” Jesus is inviting us here to evaluate our lives to see what kind of influence we are having in our families, work places, churches and nation.
It is incumbent upon each of us to evaluate our lives, to see if we are indeed part of God’s plan building His church. The question is have we become so consumed by the world’s affairs that we have forgotten what our main purpose given by God?
The Scripture is clear about all of this. Our lives will be judged based on whether we have fulfilled this purpose or not. Romans 2:6-8, “He will render to each one according to his works. To those who with patience in well doing seek glory, honor and immortality God will give eternal life, but to those who are self-seeking and disobey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.”
Sharing our faith through the integrity and goodness of our lives is the hallmark sign that we are truly followers of Jesus. If Jesus is in us, it will be made known and the world will have opportunity to see, hear and understand. That is our call and mandate, Mark 16:15, to “proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”