In Matthew 5:14, as Jesus delivers the sermon on the mount, He says, “You are the light of the world.” How are we “the light of the world”?
In 1 John 1:5, we read that “God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all” and in John 8:12, Christ says, “I am the Light of the world.” As Christians, we have clothed ourselves with Christ (Gal. 3:27), Christ lives in us (Gal. 2:20), and we live in Christ (Phil. 1:21). Our daily lives (should) reflect Christ to the world.
Jesus continues, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (5:16). The reason that we are a “light” and are commanded to do good is so that those around us will ultimately glorify God.
Because we have Christ, we are the light of the world. When people around us see how we live, hear the words that we speak, and consider the decisions that we make, do they find a reason to glorify God?
Matt Langfield