No Strings Attached

Matthew 5:14-16
14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot 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. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

In this Verse Jesus is saying that you are the light of the world. You Hope are the Light of the World, You, Alea are the light of the world. You, Laura are the light of the world, You, Jason are the light of the world, You, Heidi are the light of the world, You, Rindy are the light of the world, You, Gary are the light of the world, You, Joe are the light of the world. You Denise, are the light of the World, You Evelyn, are the light of the World, You John, are the light of the World, You Christine, are the light of the World. And you, (insert your name here) are the light of the world. In this scripture he is talking to the crowd. He is telling us… the people that we are the light of the world.

Can you see anywhere in this scripture an if? Or a Except? It does not say… You are the light of the world well…um…  unless you went to see Knocked Up in the theatre last week? It does not say you are the light of the world… well… um… except for those of you who smoke cigarettes? It does not say you are the Light of the World… well… um… unless you like to listen to MCR or even… Brace Yourselves… Nickleback… 

This part of the scripture does not come with a condition. It’s a declaration, it’s truth, it’s life, and you are the Light of the World. There are no exceptions for followers of Christ such as these… you are the light of the world only if you love one another. It doesn’t say you are the light of the world only when you read your Bible and pray everyday.  It doesn’t say you are the light of the world only if you raise your hands when you are worshipping.

It says you are the light of the world. You are a light whether you feel like a light of not. You are a light whether you act like a light or not. You are the light of the world because Jesus says you are the light of the world. You might be a bright and shining light or you might be a dimly lit light but regardless a light is still a light. Whether bright or dim a light is a light.

What makes you the light of the world is found in a scripture in John 8:12 where it says… When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

When you accepted Jesus to be in your life you became the light of the world. His light is in you because you have made the decision to be a follower of Christ.  He qualifies you to be the light of the world therefore you did nothing to earn it or deserve except making the decision to follow him. It’s simply by His grace that you are the light of the world.