stephen R Harrison

The headlights on my Jeep had become cloudy, and I couldn’t see very well at night anymore. The bulbs still worked, but the lenses wouldn’t allow all of the light to pass through them. Probably 50% of the light was blocked. Over thirteen years, the plastic surface of the lenses had oxidized and lost its effectiveness. I tried a restoration kit I bought at the auto parts store. I squirted the compound on the headlight, secured the buffer in my cordless drill, and attacked the headlights with hopes to make them like those I saw in the infomercial. It was fun, but it didn’t work. Finally, I bought new headlights online and replaced them. I couldn’t wait to drive my Jeep that night. Wow! The difference literally was night and day. Now, all of the light passed through, and I could see so much more clearly. I even had a few compliments on the new headlights on my old Jeep!

Jesus said we were to let our light shine. In His most famous sermon, He said, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16). What was this light He was referring to?  You and I cannot make ourselves into the light of the world. Jesus says we are the light of the world because of our relationship with Him. “The God who said, ‘Out of darkness the light shall shine!’ is the same God who made His light shine in our hearts, to bring us the knowledge of God’s glory shining in the face of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6). 

The light of Jesus is spoken into our hearts by God, and it shines so powerfully through us that we are referred to as stars in the universe that point humanity toward real life in Christ (Philippians 2:15-16). But like that dirty headlight, we can hinder the amount of light that is shown to the world. The Light (Jesus) has never lost its intensity. Jesus is still the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). The power of the light is Jesus, and He is the light of the world (John 8:12; 9:5). He wants to focus Himself through our lives, but our sin and selfishness can block His power and intensity. We cloud the light. He wants to cleanse us so more of His light can pass through us. This is an illustration of discipleship. Jesus, the Light of the world, changes us so we can shine His light to the world. We are His light, not because of anything we have done, but because of our fellowship with Him. He says, “Whoever follows me will have the light of life and will never walk in darkness” (John 8:12). 

We focus on Him, the Light of the world, and He focuses His light through us to be His beacon in a dark world. We must remember that our influence and visibility are only present because He lives in us. Like the headlight lens, I focus the light. I am not the Light. The bulb in my headlight was always bright, but the lens was cloudy. We are stewards of His light and must let the light shine through us. We must get out of the way so He can shine bright. As He purifies us, more of Him can be visible to a watching world. The contaminants of this world can cloud the structure God desires to shine through. He made you to reflect His light. So let your light shine so others will see Jesus in you!