Is Every Light In The House On?
I will be the first to admit that I am a bit frugal (some would call me cheap, but I prefer frugal). The winter months generally find me running the thermostat down to near uncomfortable levels as I tell my family to put on warm clothes in the house. Summer time finds me sliding the thermostat to once again near uncomfortable levels, but this time on the opposing end of the spectrum and calling for my kids to find a fan under which to lie. Needless to say, I am constantly on my young children to turn off lights and any other electricity-draining devices while not in use. I have been known to remark that we are not Motel 6 (In case you don’t know, there motto is, “We’ll leave the light on for you”) or that it does not require every light in the house to be on in order to function in whatever capacity they may choose at the moment.
What is not good for the power bill is good for the church. The Master taught, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matt.5:14-16). We have been given a very grave responsibility to shine forth the light of God into the lives of others so that they may come to know Him as their Father. We are to be “blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world” (Phil.2:15). Christ is the source of light (John 8:12), and we are to reflect that light to a lost and dying world. A world enshrouded in the darkness of depravity and sin desperately needs us to let our lights shine! There are those who have allowed their lights to grow dim, having distanced themselves from the source of power (Eph.6:10). Many Christians are growing weak and their influence for good is quickly eroding. Perhaps because of discouragement, disappointment, the deceitfulness of sin, or any other number of reasons these have allowed their Christian lights to come dangerously close to being snuffed out. Let us exhort our brethren who may be in danger of slipping away to continue in the faith (Acts 14:22). Some have quit allowing their lights to shine altogether, having abandoned the way of the Lord to return to the pigpen of riotous living (2 Pet.2:20-22). These need to be snatched from the fire (Jude 23). Their lights are no longer shining in the house of the Lord. Sadly, there are still others who want everyone else’s lights to shine upon them so that they might receive the accolades and applause of men. Rather than pointing souls to the light of Jesus Christ, some want only for the glory to fall upon them. These need to be reminded that we are to let our lights shine so that God might receive the glory!
How tragic it is when every light is not on in the house of God! Every member of the Lord’s church has a responsibility to shine the light of God’s love, mercy, grace, longsuffering, and forgiveness into the lives of those who need to be brought to Jesus before it is eternally too late! Is your little Christian light still shining? Are you hiding it under a bushel? Have you allowed Satan to snuff it out? Is it shining all around the neighborhood? Let us do all that we can to ensure that every light in God’s house remains on!
- Patrick Morrison
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