Several years ago we took our youth group to Bryson City, NC for summer camp. We had some amazing times up there and I have memories from those trips that will last a lifetime. The first year we went up there, the camp owner (Bill) took us on two different adventures to teach an important spiritual lesson. One of the adventures was a hike over a creek, up a mountain and down into a deep cave. While the other adventure was on the “Road to Nowhere” which involved a long bus ride on a winding mountain road at night (with no moon) then a ½ mile walk through a tunnel. Both of these journeys were designed to demonstrate how a small amount of light can dissipate darkness (by the way, the darkness in the cave and the tunnel was nothing like I had ever experienced before – as in so dark you could not even see your hand in front of your face dark!) Of course, the real lesson was that the brighter the light (he had several different flashlights with different brightness levels) the more the darkness went away. One of the other things we noticed was that even when Mr. Bill would shine the light only on his face, it still had the effect of illuminating others. He honed in on how we are to be the light in this dark world (Matthew 5:16) and how our light impacts all those around us.
So how do we do this? How do we become the light of the world?
*Be in the Word – John 1:1-5 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
The Word is God; therefore the Word is Light and where there is light, there is no darkness. The more we are in the Word, the more we illuminate the light of Jesus. His Word changes us.
*Know Truth: 1 John 1:6-7 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light.
The more we are in The Word, the more truth we know which helps us to more easily recognize the lies of the enemy.
*Walk as Jesus Walks: 1 John 2: 5-6 By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.
How did Christ walk? His every word and deed reflected His love for the Father and His love for others.
Is the Light of His Word reflecting on your life? Are you quick to recognize truth from the lies of the enemy? Are you demonstrating your love for the Father and for others with your words and actions? In a world that feels heavy and dark right now, it is so very important for us to remember God is our light and this world needs to see His light in us. Since He can never be dimmed, neither can we as long as we are walking in step with Him.
Rooted in Christ 