“Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. God called the light day, and the darkness night. So the evening and the morning were the first day” (Genesis 1:3-5). God gave man the light of day for work and the darkness of night for rest.

Later, God sent a special ray of light into the world to illuminate the path of man. He did this because the light in the world had been darkened by sin. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). With the coming of Jesus, the light of the gospel of the kingdom was set in motion. “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people” (Matthew 4:23).

Luke recorded the necessity of letting the light of the Kingdom shine forth from the heart. “No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light” (Luke 8:16). The sowing of the precious seed of the gospel should not be deterred or hindered by affairs of the world. Business or family obligations should not impede the illumination process. This teaching must be recognized and executed in the lives of all people. The word of God must be revealed—not hidden. Therefore, disciples of Christ must let their light shine by the way they walk and by the way they talk—so as to be examples.

Hear Jesus; “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen” (Matthew 28:19-20). With the great commission of Jesus as their mission and banner, soldiers of Christ must rise up, march, and fight darkness in every corner of the world. The gospel must be published to the entire world and not retained in the hearts of a few. Any remaining obstacles must be removed.

Is your lamp clean and bright or has your mantle been obscured by the doctrine of darkness? If so, by the Word of God,  clean the mantle and the wick of your heart, and lift up His Son to a lost and dying world. Hear the Lord Jesus:  “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given” (Mark 4:24). Christians must be attentive to the words of Jesus. Focusing on His Word,  gives disciples spiritual understanding.

Are you listening to the Son of God?