LIGHT OF THE WORLD (2)

“You are the LIGHT of WORLD. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden” – Matthew 5:14

Our Lord Jesus Christ has handed over the baton to us Believers as the LIGHT of the WORLD: “You are the LIGHT of WORLD. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden” (Mt.5:14). As we noted in yesterday’s Capstone Capsule, Jesus had said: “As long as I am in the world, I AM THE LIGHT of WORLD” (Jh.9:5). Now that He is not physically on earth, He has passed over the baton to those who believe in Him to fulfil the assignment of being the “Light of the world” – as prominent as “a city that is set on a hill” which “cannot be hidden”!

Believers in Christ are “THE Light of the world.” Not just ‘A’ light! The word “the” used here is exclusive; meaning, there is no other light. The world has no other light. We are now the Representatives of the One Who said, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (Jh.9:5). In His place, we are the light of the world. If we do not give light, there is no other source to which the world can turn or look for light. This means that the world is totally dependent upon Believers in Christ, for illumination!

The Old Testament provides a simple illustration on our significance as the Light of the world. In the tabernacle that God commanded Moses to build, there were two compartments: The Holy Place; and the Holiest of All or the Holy of Holies. The Holy Place contained three objects of furniture: The golden altar of incense; a seven-branched candlestick; and the table of showbread, each of which was symbolic in meaning. The candlestick typifies the church. It had seven branches that characterize the sevenfold nature of the church.

The “candles” were bowls with channels filled with oil. Little wicks were dipped in the oil, and the light was produced by igniting the wick, which set the oil in the wick on fire. Unless there was oil in the candles, and unless that oil was ignited, the candles gave no light. Indeed, in the Holy Place, the candlestick was the only source of light. If there was no light coming from the candlestick, there was no light at all.

Similarly, the Church is the only Light of the world. We are the seven-branched candlestick. We give light only when we are filled with oil and the oil is set on fire. We give light as we’re filled with the Holy Spirit and set on fire by God’s Word. The candlestick, in itself, could not produce light without the oil and the fire! The Lord instructs us in practical terms, how to fulfil this Ministry of Light to a world in darkness: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glory Your Father in heaven” (Mt.5:16).