Articles
Lights of the World!
Each November for the past 10 years, I begin the process of hanging Christmas lights. I
say process, because I check each strand of lights for individual bulbs or whole sections of bulbs
that no longer light and then replace them. Nothing is worse than hanging lights on a house only
to find that whole sections do not light up! Is it tedious work? Yes, but better working on the
ground than from a ladder! If I am correct in my research for light preparation, a bulb that no
longer works will, over time, begin to weaken the entire strand of lights. So for several weeks I
faithfully replace as many bulbs as possible, to keep our lights shining brightly.
This “shining brightly” scenario is quite similar to the church and the responsibility we
each have to be lights in a dark world. Jesus challenges His followers, “You are the light of the
world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp, and put it under the peck-
measure [bushel], but on the lampstand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. 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” (Mt. 5:14-16). When the church as a whole shines as we should, the light is
distinct and can be seen clearly. Unfortunately, there are Christians who have dimmed over the
years, or perhaps have quit shining altogether, placing their light “under a bushel”. And yes, just
as with the bulbs on a string of lights, that one Christian can, and often does over time, begin to
affect the light being shown by surrounding Christians.
A word of warning is in order. Just as I remove the bad bulb and replace it with one
which works, the Lord has warned that He does the same with Christians who no longer produce.
“Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit,
He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit” (John 15:2). Some would suggest this points to
Judgment Day, but notice again the last part of the verse, “...every branch that bears fruit, He
prunes it, that it may bear more fruit.” This applies to the “hear and now” as we bear fruit for our
Lord and Savior, beginning as shining lights (Philippians 2:15-16). I can’t explain the “how” we
are pruned, but I know He does. He gives the same warning using the example of salt having lost
its taste, only good for being thrown out and trampled under foot (Matthew 5:13).
Are you shining brightly for the Lord? Or, is it possible that you have allowed your light
to become dim or even go out completely? Wouldn’t this be a great time as we look toward the
end of the 2016 year to take a moment to see how brightly our lights are shining (2 Corinthians
13:5) and re-dedicate ourselves to shining more bright and clear for the Lord as we look forward
to the new year! ~P. Mowrer
