You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Light vs. Darkness. Love vs. Hate. Life vs. Death. Extremes, all of them. Polar opposites of one another, and food for our thoughts on this day.
This year, I have done something that I never expected to do... I went back in time! Now, I know you must be thinking, "Oh boy... Eric's finally flipped this time! Now he thinks he's a time traveler!", but hear me out.
This year, I chose as a "theme" for our evangelistic outreach programs the very same theme I used for our 1995 tour, "Life or Death!". This program was based upon a discussion of the "extremes" of Christianity. The major stage illusion that illustrated our message was a seven foot guillotine, and friends, let me tell you... people GOT the message!
Well, that guillotine has become a trademark for our performance... and the burden of my heart concerning the extremes of Christianity is back - with a passion! I believe that we are in the end times! I believe with all of my heart that Jesus is bringing together His Bride, and His return is imminent!
Now, even as I write that, I feel compelled to clarify something. I am NOT saying that Jesus will return this week, this year, or even within my lifetime. Rather, I am saying that we are closer today than we have ever been since the day Jesus left this earth. I look around, and I see absolute proof that the Body of Christ is preparing for the return of our Lord.
Denominations are putting down their differences, and clinging to the common ground that binds us together. Revival is breaking out all around the world, and as I have traveled across America, I have been blessed to be a part of what God is doing.
And yet, in spite of all this encouraging news, I have a renewed sense of urgency with this message, delivered to us all by Jesus Himself. We know from the Scriptures that in the end times, darkness will increase, and this is evident everywhere we look. The world is in a state of moral degradation the likes of which are unparralleled in the history of mankind... and as the darkness grows more and more intense, the need for a brilliant light is ever more important!
When Jesus spoke of us as being, "the light of the world", He was refering to the believers. We have accepted the light, and we know it to be the Lord, Jesus Christ. He reigns within our hearts, and is demonstrated through our actions. We, as believers, are constantly on trial - and remain under the microscope of scrutiny of a skeptical world. How is your light shining?
In my illusion program, I have a routine that makes use of a 40 watt lightbulb. Just a couple weeks ago, I presented this routine before hundreds of people, on a stage that had almost 500,000 watts of stage lighting. Needless to say, my little refrigerator lightbulb was washed out by the other lights... and it got me to thinking... how does "MY" light shine?
Friends, when the world looks at you - what do they see? How is your light shining for the Lord? Are you bearing the testimony of Christians - sold out and radical for Jesus? Can the world look at your good deeds and be drawn into a position of worshipping the Almighty God?
There's a point to ponder as you go through the week... Lord, help us all to let our lights shine so that the world might see our good deeds, and be drawn to glorify YOU!
Copyright © 1997 Eric S. Reamer, all rights reserved