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News and views from the German-language region of Europe

June 11, 2010

The light of the world

Filed under Sabbath Thoughts

Cities normally are illuminated at night, clearly visible even from space.

After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, much of the Gulf Coast region of the United States in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana – especially the city of New Orleans – was without electricity for days. For people accustomed to city lights at night, being in a city without electricity at night can be a frightening experience. It reminds us of the world we live in as Christians. It is a dark world, desperately in need of light.

Christians are familiar with the analogy of being lights in a dark world. In the sermon on the mount, Jesus told His disciples: "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16).

Jesus Himself is the true light of the world: "I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life" (John 8:12).

Comparing these two scriptures, we see that our "good works" mentioned in Matthew 5:16 mean that we are to follow Jesus, i. e., we are to live our lives as He lived His.

Jesus came as the light into the darkness, but the light was not recognized: "In him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it" (John 1:4-5).

The same thing will happen to us, as Jesus said (John 15.20).

However, we can take comfort in the fact that the time is coming when the world will recognize the light:

"Abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having cour conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation" (1 Peter 2:11-12).

With these thoughts I wish us all a rewarding Sabbath!

Paul Kieffer's blog with personal insights and news from the German-language region in Europe.

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