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Concerning John the Baptist, Jesus, in John 5:35 KJV said, “He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.” Being a prophet of God, John was indeed a burning and shining light. However, the same could be said of any faithful child of God. In fact, this is exactly what Jesus meant when He said, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. (15) Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. (16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16 KJV). We read in Proverbs 4:18 KJV, “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” Then Paul said, “Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness” (1 Thessalonians 5:5 KJV). To accomplish our goals in life as Christians we should take care to always be ‘burning and shining lights.’ The world about us is always watching our every move and listening to the words that come from our mouths.

Throughout the scriptures, Light and darkness are often used to depict the vast difference between righteousness and wickedness. As members of the Church, we recognize that even the songs we sing teach the same biblical principal showing the distinction between righteousness and unrighteousness. This no doubt was part of God’s plan for the church. Singing, God’s choice of music in worship, teaches and admonishes. Paul said, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16 KJV). Then he said, “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19 KJV). Both verses show that our singing is to teach, admonish and to speak concerning the Word of God. Also, Praising God through our singing is to be done with understanding. Thankfully we have songs like, “Ye Are the Light of the World”, “Let the Lower Lights Be Burning”, “Sunlight”, “Stepping in the Light”, “Send the Light”, “Heavenly Sunlight”, “There Is Sunshine in My Soul” and a host of others reminding us that we are the light of God in a world of sinfulness (darkness). The Bible and these songs teach about the divine source of Light (God), that it is Christians that must exhibit that Light in their Christian living, and that Christians are a reflecting Light to the lost world (evangelism). Are you a Christian? If you are a Christian have you been faithful? It is our responsibility to be a light for God. If you are not a Christian light, you can begin by obeying His Word. God commands us to Hear His Word, Believe in Jesus, Repent of our sins, Confess Jesus before our fellow man, obey the command to be baptized and live a faithful life.

(Tony Hoss is minister of the Centerview Church of Christ, Elizabethton)