You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden (Matthew 5:14, NIV).
Was Jesus contradicting Himself? In John 8:12, Jesus said, “‘I am the Light of the world.’” And then in Matthew 5:14 He said, “You are the light of the world.” How can that be? Well, think about it this way. Let’s say you are hiking on a clear night under a beautiful full moon. You’re able to walk on those trails without a flashlight because the moon is so bright. But is it really? No, the moon actually produces no light on its own; it merely reflects light generated by the sun.
Do you see it? Jesus said that the Christian is the light of the world because when we accept Christ, His light dwells within us—others see His light through us. Have you ever noticed that unique sparkle in the eye of that Christ-centered life? Have you ever seen the deadness in the eyes of people who live far from God and get hardened over time? The eye is the window of the soul. It reveals what’s there, what’s inside. Well, Jesus said, “You are the light of the world,” because when you receive Christ, His Spirit, His Light, dwells within you. You really are the “light of the world” whenever others see that reflection of the Son in you.
So Christian, let that Light shine!
