Matthew 5:14-16: “You are the light of the world … let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven.”
I went outside the other night and was taken aback by how bright the moon was. It lit up the entire sky. It was absolutely beautiful. Then as I watched, a cloud entered the picture and hit the light of the moon. A little later, the cloud moved on and the sky, and everything under it, was lit up once again. I have note been able to get that picture out of my mind.
As I thought about the moon that night, I went back to seventh grade science class, where I learned that the moon has no light of its own but the moon reflects the light of the sun. If the sun were not present, then the moon would just be a dark, ugly mass in the sky. And when the night falls, you would never be able to see the moon.
I then began to think about Matthew 5:14-16, when Jesus said, “You are the light of the world.” When I think about it, I am just a moon. I have no light of my own. At best, all I can do is to reflect the light of the Son. Without the light of the Son, I would be a dark, ugly mass walking the face of the earth.
Jesus came to this old earth to bring His light to my life. (And to yours.) You see, that all of us have had our light dimmed greatly by the cloud of sin in our life and the world is deprived of the light that brightens our days. Because of the cloud of sin, the world will never see the Son in our life. The light that Jesus brings is the light of love and the light of His precious grace. When His grace and love are present in my life, then those around me are blessed by the light of the Son.
I remember a few months ago that we met up with Andi and her family and Brett and his family at the apple orchard. I remember walking around picking apples and watching the grandkids have a ball. At one point, Linda went to pick an apple, and as her hand went up to the tree, the sun hit her wedding ring and the reflection caught my eye. My squirreled-up mind compared the ring reflecting the sun tot he moon reflecting the sun at night. Linda’s diamond is like the moon: It has no light of itself, but reflects the light from another source.
Here is my point: This is the basis of Jesus’ message to mankind. He is the Light (John 12:46). Jesus said that He came into the world so that men would not have to walk in darkness. When Jesus comes into your life, your life becomes a beautiful object. No matter if you are an ugly mass like the moon or a beautifully cut stone like a diamond, Jesus can make you shine. Your beauty never will be seen without a light source, and Jesus is the light that your life needs.
When you accept Jesus into your life, your responsibility is to reflect the glory of God’s son. Matthew 5:16. So let me close with this question: Are you reflecting the light of the SON?
– David Myers