In Matthew 5:14-16 Jesus said “You are the light of the world…” But wait a minute, did He not say in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world”? Yes He did, and He is “the true light that gives light to every man coming into the world” John 1:9. Again He said in John 9:5 “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Looking at these verses together we learn that He came into the world and brought the true light, but in due time He would be going back to His Father and He relegated (or consigned) the shining of that light to His followers. As the lighthouse must have the light shining within it, or in its beacon, in order to shine its light into the darkness, so likewise we must have His light in us to shine that light into the world. The story is told of how Philip P. Bliss was inspired to write the lyrics of the old hymn “Let the lower lights be burning”. It seems that in one of D. L. Moody’s sermons in the hearing of Mr. Bliss he told of a ship approaching the Cleveland harbor where two lights (or sets of lights) were needed to guide a ship safely into the channel. One dark stormy night a ship was approaching the harbor and the captain noticing only one of the lights asked the pilot if he was sure this was Cleveland, “Quite sure” was the pilots reply, “Where are the lower lights” the captain, “Gone out sir” was the reply; “Can you make the harbor” he asked, “We must or we perish was the brave pilots reply”. But in spite of his braveness he missed the channel, the ship struck the rocks and many lives were lost. As Moody came to the conclusion his appeal was, “Brothers the Master will take care of the great lighthouse! Let us keep the lower lights burning. Yes, Jesus as the great lighthouse ever shines His light into a dark troubled world, but in order to guide sin weary travelers into the channel of His love and grace we must keep the lower lights burning!
The light
By Rose Hill
Be very happy for Jesus has said,
You are the light and you must not be hid.
Let your light shine for the world to see,
Then people will give praise and glory to Me.
Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson Co. used by permission