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Sermon Notes of Rev.Dr.Ivor J.W.Oakley (25-6-2000
Guisborough Evangelical Church)
Additional Bible Reading Ephesians 5:8-16
Having described Christian character in the Beatitudes,
Christ then takes two very common things in every home to describe the kind of
influence Christians are to exercise. Firstly salt, bringing purity, acting as
preservative and giving flavour to life. Now, light of the world, another
description of the Christian which shows what a glorious thing it is to belong
to him. Also an enormous compliment that the very title which Christ claims –
the Light of the World – is borne by his followers, though in a lesser and
derived sense.
How this title lifts up our heads, and helps us lose our inferiority complex. Priceless privilege of being his. Firstly we will consider the functions of the Christian as light of the world, and then the way in which we should exercise these functions, and the means whereby we can shine.
Firstly and most obviously, light must shine. The title
“salt of the earth” presupposes that humanity is corrupt and decaying. So
“light of the world” presupposes that the world is in darkness. Despite all
its knowledge, culture and sophistication, as far as God is concerned, and as
far as spiritual truth and right relationship with God is concerned, this world
is in total darkness. “As black as midnight”. And in this black world, you
and you alone (umeis) are the light of
the world. Breathtaking.
If we dared to claim these
things for ourselves, people might well ask who we think we are. What arrogance
and pride it would be. But here Jesus says it to his disciples – you who
belong to me, saved by me, in whose hearts I live by my Holy Spirit, under the
authority of my word – you and you alone are the light of the world.
The function of light is to be
seen. Palestinian houses were very dark, with only one small circular window
only 18 inches across. The only source of light was a lamp, like a sauceboat
filled with oil and with a wick floating in it, placed on a lamp-stand. It was
never put out, by being put under an earthen bushel, except when a person went
out, for safety’s sake. Normally placed on lamp-stand (roughly shaped branch
of wood). Normally meant to be shining. Our light is meant to be visible
everywhere – in Church and also in our everyday lives at home and in the
street. The quality of our life is meant to be seen. Our presence should be like
a light being switched on. We may not say a word, but just by being there, light
shines.
I was once preaching at Falkirk
for a Hogmanay Service and 1 January Conference. I stayed with a family who
lived on a very rough estate. It was so rough, in fact, that the phone number of
the local glazier was on their “friends and family” list for discount from
BT, they had so many smashed windows. Yet despite the environment and
difficulties they lived under, the family were a shining example of light in
amongst darkness. They were known on that estate as “The Christians”.
When light shines, darkness is
exposed. Not aware of depth of darkness till light appears. When light shines,
darkness is shown up. People think and wonder, feel ashamed, and leads to
antagonism. Jesus said Everyone who does evil hates the light (John
3:20). That is why Christ is hated. And so often his followers have the same
treatment. But that is one of the results of belonging to him and being accepted
by him. We are meant to shine. Secret discipleship is no refuge, for it does not
work. Either secrecy destroys discipleship or discipleship will destroy secrecy.
Another function of light is to
be a guide, whether a hand torch, car lights, airport runway, or guiding lights
for ships at river estuary, and 1000 other purposes. Light makes the way clear.
In spiritual matters, the things
of God, and in identifying humanity’s fundamental need, you and you alone are
the light of the world, with Bible in hand and Holy Spirit in heart, you alone
can throw light on the matter. True cause of world’s problems is man’s
estrangement from God. We are made by God for God, but God has been cast down
and self has usurped the throne. Self in the centre means we are “ec-centric”.
Here is root cause of all problems. Man is so made that he cannot truly live
unless in right relationship to God.
And if Christian knows cause of
problem, he also has remedy. The cure is not found in knowledge, changing the
environment, or political manoeuvring. The answer is in radical revolution in
heart of man, for men need a new centre which is God, new nature which loves
godliness and righteousness, new outlook, new orientation, new life which loves
light and hates darkness. The trouble with man is not in intellect but in heart
and nature. We know what is right, but prefer and do, if we can get away with
it, what is evil.
What bewilders and baffles man is crystal clear to the Christian. Man needs to get back to God, and the Christian can show that there is a way back to God, and a very simple one.
It is to know one person, Jesus Christ, Son of God, who came from heaven to seek and save the lost, who died and rose again to open the way back to God. He is able to impart not only new teaching and example, but also new life and new nature.
No one else can be light in the world, revealing the truth on these vital things, except the Christian and the Gospel he believes and teaches. The questions we must ask ourselves are these: Do our tongues witness to these truths? Do our lives witness to these truths? Do people watching us see something different about us? Are our lives a silent rebuke? Are we a problem to people? Do they wonder why we are so peaceful and balanced, why we stand up to things as we do? Do they wonder why we don’t depend on living from one excitement to next to keep at bay the terrible boredom of life? Christian people alone are the light of the world. We need to live and function as the children of light.
The last function we are going to consider is that light also acts as a warning. Red light at traffic signal speaks of danger. Duty to warn of consequences of walking in face of God’s will and God’s way and God’s salvation. If there is salvation, there is also loss. If there is life, there is also death. If there is heaven, there is also hell.
Solemn word to John Newton by dying woman: “Mr Newton, you often told me of Christ but you never warned me of my danger”. But how difficult it is to warn, and how useless to warn in anger, criticism or condemnation, or desire to hurt. There is no other way but to do it in love. It was said of Florence Allshorn, the famous teacher, that if ever she had occasion to rebuke a student, she did it with her arm around them.
So Jesus said to his disciples, you and you alone are the light of the world – meant to shine, to guide and to give warning.
Let your light shine before
men that they may see your good deeds (or works) and praise your Father in
heaven (Matthew 5:16). They put a lamp on its stand, and it gives light
to all in the house (5:15). So ours is to shine, and the result is God’s
glory.
The Greek word’s translated
“good deeds”, kala = ”Beautiful”;
erga = general term for all we say and do. Luther says this reference is
solely to evangelism. Certainly evangelism is included, but by no means is it
limited to this.
Our concern must be not to bring
attention to ourselves but to God. No place for ostentation or show. The story
is told of a group of young people who attended an all night prayer meeting. In
the morning they said to D.L.Moody “Mr Moody, see how our faces shine”.
Moody said very gently “Moses knew not that his face shone”.
Sometimes draw attention not
just to ourselves, but also to our inconsistencies, and therefore distract from
God’s glory. Always worried when I see a text in the back window of a car –
dangerous unless there is a very careful driver on board! “Jesus is Lord” on
cars exceeding speed limit is a very poor witness, can do more harm than good.
Beware, for our attempts to witness can draw attention to ourselves and our
inconsistencies.
The only person to whom
attention must be drawn is God. Two preachers were heard by a certain man in
London one Sunday. In the morning he went to hear Dr Joseph Parker, and
afterwards he was full of praise: “What a preacher, such oratory, command of
words, and eloquence”. In the evening he went to hear Spurgeon, and his
reaction to this service was: “What a great Saviour is Jesus”.
So we must shine that God is glorified. People must recognise we are what we are and do what we do because it is him and not us. He is the secret. He is what makes us tick.
The idea of “light” was very familiar to Jews.
Jerusalem was a “Light to the Gentiles”. Famous Rabbi known as “Lamp of
Israel”. At the same time, the Jews were sure no man kindled his own light. It
was God who kindled Israel’s lamp; therefore Israel had a borrowed light. So
it is with the Christian. In saying we are light of the world, Jesus is not
suggesting we produce our own light.
Jesus is supremely the Light of
the World (John 8:12). We are merely reflectors of that light. Lights by
derivation. N.B. His phrase continues He who keeps following (o
akolouqwn) me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of
life. We need to be related to him, the light of the world (Ephesians
5:8). We do not create light but we receive it and then transmit it. It is
dependent on union between Christ and the believer. He enters us and we become
what he is.
The Bible often emphasises that
continuing relationship with the Lord. Paul prays that Christ may dwell in
your hearts through faith…..and that you may be filled to the measure of all
the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:17,19). Jesus said My Father and I will
come to him and make our home with him (John 14:23). And so we become
reflectors and transmitters. You may participate in the divine nature (2
Peter 1:4). Christ lives in me (Galatians 2:20).
So we are light of the world only so far as we are in Christ, and remain continuously in contact with him. When we come to the Lord and are in contact with him, we do not get permanent supply (like a load of coal to last the winter). We need daily renewal of his grace. Daily coming to Christ. Daily grasp of his hand. Constantly plugged in and switched on. Daily realize our need. Daily go to him. Daily receive from him. Daily maintain contact. Hence daily reading of word and speaking to him in prayer. Care also to avoid anything which causes flame to flicker or burn less brightly.
You and you alone are the light of the world. Meant to
shine, guide and warn. Do it so that attention is focused not on selves but on
him. This is possible only if we are in contact, constant contact, with him who
is the real Light of the World.
Read biographies of men of God
who were like cities set on a hill. They never say “I came to Christ once and
for all, that’s that. This one great experience will last me forever.” No,
they daily spent as much time with him as they could to be the person they were.
They came back again and again to rekindle their relationship with Christ. Been
to him as Light of the World, kindled their torch from his, alive because of
him.
Are you content you have been to him once? Or do you go to him daily? From the fullness of his grace we have received one blessing after another (John 1:16). We are meant to have one experience after another. Reflect the Lord’s glory, transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory (2 Cor. 3:18).
