Scott Bruton
The Bible tells Christians to let their light shine out into the dark world around them. (Matthew 5:16 "In the same way, let your light shine before others") Jesus explained to His disciples that light was made to shine into all of the house and not be hidden. "Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house." Matthew 5:15. God's word teaches Christians to Stand up for Jesus before people, while at the same time, providing us a genital, yet stern, warning; to deny Christ before man is to have Christ deny us before the Father. "But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven". Matthew 10:33. The magnificent Church Hymn, "Stand up, Stand up for Jesus", encourages believers to "lift high His royal banner" because we are "soldiers of the cross". We teach our Children that Christian soldiers are to serve as if they are "marching as to war", knowing that "at the sign of triumph, Satan's host doth flee".
We teach these things because the Bible is abundantly clear that Jesus has already overcome the evil in this world. John 16:33 "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." We also teach these things because the Bible tells us that in the end, after defeating the devil and his angles of darkness, Jesus will prevail triumphantly. Knowing all of this, I ask; "if God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31 In 1 peter 5:8, we get our answer. "Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." The intriguing thing here is although God has already won the war, the devil does not see it. He thinks he still has a chance, so he continues to wage war on God, Jesus, the Church, and Christians. Here, is the encouragement; If God so wished, He could put an end to the devil and his plans with one stroke of His mighty hand! However, God wants to use us, His people, to fight for Him! We are soldiers in God's army, and He is our commander and chief. As God's soldiers, it is essential that we keep our light shining upon the shadow of evil that Satan brings into this world. There can never be darkness when light is present. The dark forces of Satan and his angles flee at the light God shines. When we receive Christ, we become His royal ambassadors. It is up to us to continue holding His banner high so that this world has no doubt whose side we are on.
There are two reasons why our task must not fail. 1) Even though Gods army will prevail victoriously, we must continue to fight for new recruits; those who do not know Jesus as their Savior. We must continue to "send the light, the blessed gospel light", because "there are souls to rescue, there are souls to save". (HymnSend the Light) We cannot stop fighting and let Satan pull those millions of souls into everlasting damnation. "Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16.
The second reason we must continue fighting is to encourage the believer. The only light that cannot beam into darkness is a light that has been either covered up, or smudged with dirt and grime. Paul encouraged believers not to be part of the world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will ishis good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2. We cannot let the world's dirt and dust smoother out the light of Jesus in this world. We must engage the enemy in order to help each other keep that dirt and grime of sin away from our hearts door. We must inspire, and encourage the discouraged; the ones who have fallen victim to evil; the ones who have given up the fight. It is our duty to ensure that our lights, and the lights of other Christians, stay clean and bright. It is our duty to help each other stay away from the pleasures of this world that dim Christ light and influence in this world. Through the journey down the dirt road of life, we all pick up some dirt. "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23 The dust of sin takes away our power, takes away our joy, takes away our witness and creditability. Let us all be lighthouse washers for God.
Jesus told His disciples to let their light shine before others. He knew that there can never be darkness when light is present. Pray this week for courage and strength to let your light shine before men so that we all shine on God, our Father by giving Him all the glory that is rightfully His.
I am the author and editor of paraklesisblog.com, a website blog created to encourage the Christian believer in their faith. I am also a Parkinson patient at age 48. This article is free to be distributed as long as my name and website address are attached to the print. Copyright 2012, Scott Bruton
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