THE CHURCH - THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

THE CHURCH: THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

LIGHT is a source of illumination. Spiritual or mental illumination; enlightenment, useful information. A point of view, or aspect from which a concept, person or thing is regarded

The CHURCH is a Christian house of worship; a building where religious services take place. A church more importantly should be identified as Christians collectively seen as a single spiritual community, a group of people who follow the same Christian religious beliefs, local or general.

It is very important that we understand at this point without any iota of confusion that the church in the context of this article isn't in any way referring to the ediface that we seat in, but the congregation of saints, those redeemed of the Lord, who for their sakes the Lord JESUS went all the way to Calvary, snatching their souls from the grip of the devil. HALLELUYAH

LIGHT is an indispensable attribute for any living thing. The absence of light means the expectation to fall down flat as you walk through, injure oneself as a result of ignorance of that which lies ahead or more generally the plan to fail at any planned activity. This equally shows to us the popular notion why it is generally accepted worldwide by a lot of the human race to work in the day and rest at night (Gen. 1, John. 11:9), this still boils down to the presence or absence of light because any job that must be done after sun-down must require an alternative source of light. Science also teaches us that green plants need sunlight in order to make their food and grow properly, in a process known as photosynthesis. All in all, LIGHT equals LIFE

Matthew  5:14-16 reveals "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

Just as no sane man would light a candle and hide it underneath a table (Luke. 11:33), so also the Lord expects that the church shouldn't be hidden, He anticipates and expects us to shine the light of His glorious gospel onto the ends of the earth, not diluting it on behalf of fear or favour. (2Cor. 4:2)

There is an expectation of GOD on the church today and it is that we be the light in this world shining the way for unbelievers directing them on the path of reconciliation back to GOD (2Cor. 5:17-18) and equally teaching on the day to day dealings with the Spirit of GOD.

The definition above says LIGHT is a point of view, as it has become a popular saying today that unbelievers no longer seek to read the bible but would preferably study the lives of Christians to gain insight into the things of GOD, we as the light should endeavour to portray a perfect view of the FATHER to the world.

Acts  13:47  For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

To be a light shining the way to righteousness in this world, is for us infact a commandment. The church should be a source of signalling to the things of holiness, not the other way around. It is an anomaly to find unholy works being perpetuated amongst the church (John. 8:12). The church should be built on the word of GOD and the word of GOD remains useful for inspiration, for doctrine, for reproof and instruction in righteousness (2Tim. 3:16).

Perhaps we need be reminded that the word CHURCH means YOU - the believer. As a believer, the word of GOD living in you should not be just for show, neither is it for to show skills in reciting memory verses but it should be for you and for the entire world, the inspiration of GOD (i.e. knowing what GOD is saying per time), it should equally be available whenever the rapt delivery of the good news of the gospel is required, It should be useful for both the believer and the world around him for corrections as it is a re-proof of the way we need to thread in order to please GOD and it is also a guideline for righteousness. (2Tim. 3:16)

John  9:5 JESUS says "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

As the church of GOD, this too should be our declaration, let us refuse to ooze any form of darkness/evil, but instead we should show the light of JESUS bright, bright enough so that anyone who has lost his/her way would at the appearing of this LIGHT retrace his steps and for those who haven't ever encountered the LIGHT would be eagerly drawn to it.

John  1:4 - "In him was life; and the life was the light of men."

When there is no clear-cut demarcation between believers and unbelievers, then there is pretty much very little anyone could say to convince them otherwise. They would claim, "Are we not all the same, I steal millions, you refuse to return someone else's property that you were borrowed, I get angry and fight, you get angry and keep "righteous" malice, I tell "white" lies, you tell half-truths etc. Infact no difference, you just claim to be holier, but in truth, you remain as filthy as those who haven't yet experienced this LIFE."

The church needs to understand this urgent desire in the heart of GOD as touching the church  that we bring others into this LIFE and not cause them to drift more into unrighteousness. As a denomination, another error we make is that when unbelievers come "just as they are", we forget to make sure that even though they are allowed to come just as they are, they shouldn't be allowed to continue the way they came but be transformed by the renewal of their minds (Rom. 12:1-2), through diligent teaching of the word of GOD and conscious discipleship, receiving new LIFE until they become as CHRIST is. (Eph. 4:13)

John  10:10  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have LIFE, and that they might have it more abundantly.

So a quick question you would need to answer righteously is "Are you the church that the Lord JESUS died for and is coming back again to collect as a ready bride on the last day?" OR "Are you just attending church because it affords you the opportunity to show off your better clothes every week?"

If your lot is the latter, I employ you to seek the Lord JESUS today, accept His sacrifice on Calvary tree for you and live this new LIFE henceforth (John. 17:3), with the continual aim to shine the LIGHT of the glorious gospel.

GOD BLESS YOU.