If I purchased a chandelier worth several thousand dollars and then kept it in its box and stuck it in the corner of my dining room, what would you think? You would wonder why I wasted the money on an expensive chandelier in the first place. There is no logic to such an action.
What about God’s purchases? He sent his Son on earth to pay for souls. And the cost was not just a few thousand dollars, it was the precious blood of his only Son. When people accept Jesus and ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit, they “light up” with the presence of God. Do you think God would light up someone with the Holy Spirit and then stick them in a closet of a church somewhere? Certainly, God has more sense than this.
Today we are reminded of our purpose in the world (Matthew 5:13-16).
“Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand where it gives light to all the house.”
Jesus uses three images. “Unsalty” salt serves no purpose. It is thrown into the trash. If a group wants to hide itself, they would not set up their community high on a mountain where everyone could see it. And if someone lights a lamp at night, they wouldn’t take it quickly to the basement and so let the house remain in the dark.
Disciples of Jesus are salt, a city, and light. They have a purpose in the world. When Jesus fills us with the Holy Spirit, it is not to make us feel good or just to ensure our salvation, it is because he wants to light up the world with the presence of his Kingdom. Christians are chosen to continue to be the kind of lights that Jesus was when he walked the earth. His purpose is to bring many people into his Kingdom; how else will people know there is a way out of the darkness if we aren’t ready to tell them?
Jesus concluded his discourse with:
“Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”
We are advised not to “wear our faith on our sleeves.” Jesus tells us the opposite. A little further on in Matthew’s gospel, we hear Jesus telling his people to pray, give alms, and fast in secret. Is he contradicting himself? No. He is talking about motives. If a person does religious things just to impress others, they are off track. God is interested in saving people, not in impressing them. He works in us so people will take notice that there is truly a God, and he is in their midst.
We are God’s advertisements in the world. He has brought us to new birth by water and the Holy Spirit. When we choose to hide our lights out of fear or because we don’t want to be inconvenienced, we do great disservice to God who purchased us for such a great price.
In a world lost in confusion and darkness, God sets up lights to show people the way of salvation. We are those lights. Today we pray for the courage to be witnesses for Jesus always.
