Letting Your Light Shine
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)
Jesus told His followers about the influence we should have toward those around us. He wants us to let our light shine. That light is the gospel, “…the light of the glorious gospel of Christ,” (2 Corinthians 4:4)
Many people do not know Jesus as Saviour. Matthew 7:13-14 says, “…wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” That’s a frightening thought.
According to this passage, more people are headed for hell than heaven. That’s horrible. The passage also says, “…few there be that FIND IT.” (capitals added) Not that God doesn’t want people to find him: “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13) People may not find the way to heaven because they may not think to look. Someone needs to reach them.
Think about people you know and see every day: co-workers, people at the store, neighbors, family members. Those are all people Jesus loves and died for. Do they know Jesus as Saviour?
Just before He ascended into heaven, Jesus said, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15) The word “gospel” means “good news.” This is the gospel: “…Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) When people respond to the gospel by receiving Jesus as personal Saviour, He forgives them and saves them and gives them eternal life. How wonderful!
Yet in order for people to receive Jesus, Christians need to share this good news with them: “and how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14) The word “preacher” here does not necessarily mean an ordained minister, but a Christian who shares the gospel. In the sense of sharing the gospel, then, every Christian can and should be a “preacher.”
Most of the time, you may not have openings to “talk religion,” at least not right away. Yet the way you talk and act can influence people for the gospel. 1 Peter 3:1 talks about Christian women with unsaved husbands. It says, “Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that if any obey not the word [unsaved husband], they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;” The wife’s godly conduct works on the husband’s conscience and helps convince him of his need for Jesus.
Godly conduct can provide an open door to share the gospel. Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your GOOD WORKS,” (capitals added) Not “hear your good words,” but “see your good works.” When you are industrious at work and your talk is not profane, gossipy, or whiny; when you are patient at the store with employees and not irritable and demanding (they have souls, too); when you are decent and helpful with neighbors, your conduct can open doors to share the gospel.
James 5:20 says, “…he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” If you had a chance to save someone from death, wouldn’t you do it? Of course. Yet in a far greater sense, sharing the gospel is about saving people’s lives for eternity.
If you want to see how to have forgiveness of sins and eternal life by receiving Jesus as your personal Saviour, please go to www.clevelandbaptist.org, click “Helpful Links,” then “How Do I Go to Heaven?”
Brian Miller 1/31/2025