Are there certain things that you can notice from far away? I don’t think you need to stand really close to the that The Rock is absolutely ripped and incredibly strong. Similarly, you wouldn’t need to stand really close to notice that a 7 foot 1 inch Shaquille O’Neal is really tall. There are attributes that God had given to people that are easily noticeable from great distances. In addition to those things, you can see if someone for example is a really loud talker, or really energetic, or even both at the same time.
In a similar fashion, the principle of Optical Astronomy shows us that as the Light of the World, people from afar should see that what we have inside of us is different.
Matthew 5:14-16
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 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. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
The Perception of Society
Does anybody know what the reputation that carries companies that advertise as “Christian-owned and operated” is? Unfortunately, the reputation that is carried in society is that those businesses are known to take advantage of people, because they prey on being considered trustworthy. This is the purest example of a group being told to be known by their actions, not what they say.
Jesus himself was very clear with how he said his disciples should live their lives.
John 13:34-35
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
The Demonstration of Christ’s Love
The thing is, showing love is more than just being nice to people all the time, having a hearty smile, or generally being optimistic. Loving people is dirty. Loving people means getting down in the grit and the grime with them when life is hard. We do this by living it out as Jesus did in
Matthew 20:28
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Philippians 2:3-8
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!
In order for us to demonstrate across vast distances what the love of Christ is truly about, we must approach spreading His love how He did through serving those around him.
Love Across the Distances
We have discussed over these last couple weeks about how we are surrounded by darkness, and only the light of Christ can penetrate the depths. If we are truly spreading Christ’s light, the darkness does not have a chance as we see in
John 1:5
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John discusses how the light cannot be stopped, or if we reference back to our primary verse for this series,
Matthew 5:14-16
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 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. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
John 12:46
46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
All of this demonstrates that when we live in Christ and allow him to work through us, we are a beacon, or a lighthouse to those around us. Darkness is not a force, it is simply the absence of light, so when you go anywhere carrying that light, it stands out, even from great distances.
Casting His Light Into the Depths
The thing about casting his light into the depths of the darkness, and far into peoples hearts, is that the further you go from the light, the more it feel like the darkness will push back. I promise you, when you begin casting that light out, the enemy will push against you. You will be tempted, persecuted, and attacked at every turn.
Ephesians 6:12
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
