Jesus spoke in Matthew chapter 5:
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 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.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
What determines whether we are a light to the world? As we do good works which glorify FATHER, our light grows brighter.
Society promotes laziness. The world looks for more ways to have daily tasks done for us so that we don’t have to labor anymore. If we were to automate everything, there would be no need for us and artificial intelligent machines would be doing the bidding of their inventors and programmers. Think about it.
Kids are now preoccupied with playing electronic games rather than interacting with kids in the neighborhood. Those games promote the doctrine of the developers, good or bad. How can kids develop into being “lights” to the world if they spend all day sitting on the sofa? The only thing they develop is eye strain.
FATHER associates being a light with doing. What good works did we do this week? Were we blessings to those whom we came in contact? Did we enlighten anyone this week?
When we do good works we honor and glorify Our Heavenly Father. Jesus was the Perfect Example of glorifying FATHER as He revealed in John chapter 12:
27 “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.
28 Father, glorify Your name.”
Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.”
29 Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.”
30 Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake.
31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.”
33 This He said, signifying by what death He would die.
34 The people answered Him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”
35 Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.
36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.
Jesus provided us with the ultimate example of good works thus being a Light unto mankind. He both glorified FATHER by His death and then by His resurrection. If He was willing to give His life for us, surely we can give Him time by doing good works and glorifying FATHER as a light unto the world.
How many Sons and Daughters are hidden because they have done very little in the area of good works? Are they the lights hidden under a bushel? Jesus explained in Mark chapter 4:
21 Also He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand?
22 For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.
23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”
24 Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.
25 For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”
If we do good works, we will enjoy increase in our lives. However, if we do nothing to honor FATHER by good works, what we have will be taken away and redirected to those who are willing to do good works. Each day, let us purpose to be lights unto the world and glorify Our Heavenly Father.