Have you ever tried to snatch a fire fly out of the air while it is dark? It is pretty difficult, is it not? One moment the fire fly is right in front of you, the next moment the light has vanished and there is no trace of the friendly greenish yellow light. When I fail to open my mouth and speak, perhaps I am a lot like a fire fly. My flight leads me right by the very faces of those in need of God's light, but I only give them flashes of what they need desperately, the love of God.Jesus said something similar in Matthew 5:15-16.
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (ESV)If we are the light of the world, should we be flashing our lights whenever we feel like it? No, rather we should strive to keep our light in the open, and not under a bowl or basket. Light is meant to be seen. Light is meant to guide. And God's light in us is meant to love.
Just before this passage about being a light, Jesus had been telling his disciples what is commonly referred to as the Beatitudes. The last one he mentioned before launching off into the topic of us being salt and light was this, "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (ESV) Jesus had been talking about how his followers would be persecuted just as the prophets before, but they were to rejoice despite the fact. And they were to rejoice because their reward would be great in heaven. This is an awesome reason, but because Jesus went on to talk about being a light, I believe that the two thoughts are connected.
Jesus must have been saying, "Look here, your reward will be great in heaven when you are persecuted for my sake. Not only that, you are going to make a difference in the world. You will be the salt and the light of the world. Your persecution will not go to waste; it will be used for my glory!" Wow! Isn't that an amazing promise!
So what am I doing covering up the light that has been given to me freely? Should fear of rejection hold me back when my reward will be great, and the long term affects will be far reaching? How are you hiding your light? Lets stop being fire flies. Let us hold our lights steady, and not fly away from opportunity.
