Scripture speaks of us being a light on a hill ( I encourage you to find that this morning!). If you can envision being in a room that is completely dark, and if you have ever lived in the country, you probably have lost power and know exactly what I’m talking about. A flashlight is a lifesaver.
Or perhaps when you are drifting off to sleep, you notice that light that you cannot figure out exactly where it is coming from, but it disrupts your ability to sleep. Finally though, you figure it out and it’s nothing more than just a small little LED off some little battery operated object that is letting you know the battery is low. Nevertheless, in a room completely dark, even a small light can disrupt the darkness.
As Christians, sometimes I wonder, what impact can we possibly have in a world that seems so bent on damaging itself. Everyday I wake up and wonder, how much closer to Roman times can we possibly get, and some celebrity, instagrammer, you tuber, or politician, one-ups the rest with some sin-filled nonsense!
But when you think about the example of the little light, it is clearer to see what impact could be. The light on the hill is not the sun, rather a light that becomes a beacon. In a world dark, any light will be seen and those that want to break away from the darkness, will move towards that light.
The light we have is powered by the Holy Spirit and we only need to allow it shine. That is through acts of love to one another. It is through the love we show to our neighbors. It is the contrast we demonstrate in a world that desperately is seeking light.
While we may think our light may not be enough, I’m reminded of our Christmas Eve service. At the end, we sing Silent Night and we light candles. We turn the lights out completely and we begin to light one candle at a time, and by the end, the room is awash with enough light to illuminate every corner of the room. God has called us into fellowship with one another so we do not have to light the world alone, we stand with one another, and before you know, there are many standing with us, a powerful light in a dark world.