"Let
your
light
shine
before
men in
such a
way that
they may
see your
good
works
and
glorify
your
Father
who is
in
heaven."
Matthew
5:16
I grew
up in
the
Arkansas
River
Valley
which
lies
between
the
Ouachita
Mountains
in the
south
and the
Ozark
Mountains
in the
north.
When I
was
young a
group of
us loved
to build
a fire
on the
edge of
the
river
bluffs
and
roast
hot
dogs. It
was a
beautiful
view
overlooking
the
river
with Mt.
Nebo not
so
distant
on the
other
side.
But it
was a
treacherous
hike to
get
there
because
the
trail
sometimes
ran
right
against
the
edge. If
any of
us were
to slip
and fall
off it
would
certainly
be
fatal.
Not all
of us
brought
flashlights
so those
who did
had to
illuminate the
way for
those
who
didn’t.
We all
knew
that we
needed
light
and
appreciated
those
who
shared
their
light
with the
rest of
us.
The
Bible
says
that the
world we
live in
is a
spiritually
dark
place,
yet many
do not
realize
that
they are
in
darkness
and are
in need
of
light.
The
Bible
says
that
God’s
Word is
a lamp
to our
feet and
a light
to
illuminate
our
path.
When we
receive
the Word
of God
and
allow it
to be
planted
in us,
we
become
lights
to the
world.
Unfortunately
many
prefer
the
darkness
and
despise
the
light,
but we
should
never
allow
this to
discourage
us from
shining.
How do
we
shine?
We
proclaim
the
truth
and
practice
our
Christian
faith
openly,
always
looking
for an
opportunity
to shine
the
light of
God
wherever
we see
darkness.
The
darkness
is
usually
ignorance
or
deception
and is
always
sin.
Many
never
clearly
see the
absolute
truth of
God
lived or
proclaimed
because
today’s
Christians
are
reluctant
to shine
or do
not live
it
themselves.
Jesus
commanded
His
followers
to be
like a
light on
a
mountain
and
never
hide
your
light
from
others.
John
wrote
that
Jesus
was the
light of
the
world
and the
light of
all men.
He came
into the
darkness
of the
world to
enlighten
men of
the
truth of
God. He
now
lives in
the
hearts
of the
faithful
and
desires
to live
His life
in them.
Paul
once
wrote, -"I’ve
been
crucified
with
Christ,
yet I
live,
but it
is not I
who
live,
but
Jesus
lives
His life
in me."
Our
mission
is to
illuminate
the
world
with the
light of
God’s
truth
and to
let
others
see
Jesus,
the true
Light of
the
world
shining
forth
through
us. Many
will
hate the
light,
but
there
will be
some who
will
value it
and come
to Jesus
and
follow
Him to
salvation.
