Shine - Make 'em Wonder What You've Got

Spiritual darkness! You see its effects everywhere and every day. The Bible speaks of spiritual darkness as a state of separation from God characterized by deception, moral blindness, often under the influence of demonic forces opposing God’s kingdom (Ephesians 6:12; 2 Corinthians 4:4). Darkness involves rejecting the truth and favoring evil deeds over light (John 3:19), leading to a hardened heart and closed mind that cannot perceive God’s life-giving truth (Ephesians 4:18). Spiritual darkness is not merely a metaphor, but a real, active realm dominated by cosmic powers of evil and false teachings that deceive and oppress individuals (1 Timothy 4:1; Mark 5:1-15). Where do you see spiritual darkness at work today in people or institutions or culture?

One crucial thing we must remember about spiritual darkness is that it is the place where God does His most powerful work of revelation and eternal redemption. Darkness is the place where God wins by shining His eternal light through us. God can simply say in physical and spiritual darkness: “let there be light.”

What is your natural response to the culture of darkness that we live in? Do you look at those who love darkness with disdain? The Christian response to a world in darkness is often one of self-righteous complaints about the world’s moral decline and debauchery. We tend to grumble and moan over the violence, dishonesty, immorality, and materialism. But what is Jesus’ response to the darkness? Jesus tells us that He has come to be a light in the darkness. He has come to give light and hope in this dark world to those who sit in darkness, who live in the shadow of death, so that He can then guide their feet out of darkness and into the eternal light, to the way of peace.” (Isaiah 42:6; Luke 1:79; John 8:12). Jesus proclaims that He, as light, always wins over darkness.

Our response to spiritual darkness should be ”where can I be light in this dark place?” Jesus emphatically calls us to be light in this world as He is the light (Matthew 5:14). Both Christ and His followers are the "light of the world" because Jesus, the light of the world, embodies His people. Jesus is our source of spiritual and eternal light, and that light will shine before others, so that they may see our good works and give glory to our Father who is in heaven (Matthew 5:16).

When we live a beatitude-filled life, good works will absolutely follow, and we will shine brightly like a city on a hill that cannot be hidden in the dark of night and like a lamp that gives light to all in the house (Matthew 5:1-14). Our light is the “good works” completed by Jesus through us. These good works are done with integrity, truth, and compassion to those in the darkness, which allows our actions and character to shine and attract others—not for our own glory, but to glorify God. We shine His light into a dark world by doing good works, dispelling spiritual and moral darkness. So, while Christ is the original light who brings life and illumination, believers are called to shine that light so that through us, the world may see and be led to God.

Church, darkness will not be victorious over the world, because it was not victorious over Jesus Christ who calls us to shine His light in this darkness. The light of Christ wins, we win! How is God calling you to be diligent and intentional in living out your faith through acts of kindness and service, demonstrating the transformative power of the gospel?

As the Newsboys said back in 1994, "Shine! Make ‘em wonder what you’ve got, Make ’em wish that they were not, On the outside, looking bored, Shine, Let it shine before all men, Let ’em see good works and then, Let ’em glorify the Lord."

See you Sunday, shining the light of Christ: Steve