Day 29: Shinning the Light of God to a Perverse Generation with Our Lives

We live in a world that does not acknowledge God or His existence. The Big Bang theory of evolution denies God as the first cause of all material existence. As the world progresses with giant steps in science and technology, people are fast becoming pagan in orientation. I have heard about and seen youths who have never been to church all their lives nor believe in God. We now live in a world where being Godly or ‘religious’ as in the Western parlance is fast becoming an exception. Where do we go from here?

 “You are the light of the world. You cannot hide a city that is on a mountain.” Matt 5:14 is the apt classification of the Christian according to the Word of God. Furthermore, the Word says, "Let your light shine in front of men. Then they will see the good things you do and will honour your Father who is in heaven." Matt 5:16.

Combined, it means the godly is not just the light, but he is also expected to shine the light through his life. What do people around you see you doing regularly? Do they see Christ in you? Are you a pillar to men or a caterpillar? Men are reading you. Whether for the right or wrong reasons, they know and see you. 

Hear this; "You are our letter. You are written in our hearts. You are known and read by all men" - 2 Cor 3:2. It is ironic that many Christians do not know that they are being read by others, most especially by the unbelievers. They have expectations and standards you are expected to live by. They are disappointed when we fall short. Are you up to par?

Let me conclude with my personal salvation experience. I was not godly, I was too far from God. I was not churchy but a fun-loving fellow as a young nurse in my home country. I had admitted a young university student about my age to my ward. He had a surgery done and was recuperating. About to be discharged, he discovered that his clothes needed to be ironed. I took the clothes home and got them ironed for him. He was glad and told a young doctor, then an intern. The doctor started looking for me, and we eventually became friends. He would come over to my flat, and sometimes, for hours while I was asleep, he wouldn’t disturb me.

He never knew how bad I was. Unknown to him, I was studying him and discovered a world of difference between us. He was gentle, level-headed and calm. I was none of this. We did exchange visits, and I found his life was more organised than mine. I never saw any bible on him, and he never preached Christ to me once. He saw me drinking once and never joined nor condemned me. He only said, ‘Peter, so you drink? Afterwards, I never drank in his presence again. I did not want to disappoint my friend. I love him, and he loves me as well. After a while, he went for the national service, and we did not see for some time. While he was away, I voluntarily went to church. I gave and dedicated my life to Christ. It was not the preacher’s message that did the magic that day; it was my friend’s life. I wrote him a letter, saying, “You did not preach Christ to me, but your life did.”

What message is your life sending to people, especially the unbelievers? You are the light, and you need to shine.

Likewise, every Christian home should be a model where godly children of high moral standards are raised in the fear and admonition of the Lord. The home should reflect Christ’s standards and not the worldly variants that have now bastardised the essence of our faith.

Dear Friends, know this; "...You are God’s children, and no one can talk against you, even in a sin-loving and sin-sick world. You are to shine as lights among the sinful people of this world.” Phil 2:15

Pastor Peter Olaluwoye

The darker it is, the brighter and more consequential the light. 

© Selah Series 2024