“You are the light of the world – like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”
Matthew 5:14-16
In a world that is filled with evil, it is so easy to run and hide. We can avoid the news and avoid conversations that make us sad in an attempt to guard our hearts.
I had found this to be true for me for a while. I have always loved to read the paper and know what’s going on. Maybe it was just a curiosity, because when we stopped taking the printed paper, I felt relieved at first. But something about not reading it just didn’t feel right, so I subscribed online to continue to be informed. And this past year, it has really become a part of my day that brings me motivation. Motivation to be a light in this world. Motivation to seek my Father’s will for my purpose. Motivation to pursue peace and comfort from my Father and for this world.
It wasn’t until I was feeling a bit guilty for being sad about the world that I was reminded that it was ok. After all, I know Jesus and His Kingdom. And I know that this world is not my home. But I felt guilt that I was letting the world get to me. Until one day God reminded me that even though this world is not my final destination, this world IS my home until then. And this world IS my mission field until then.
“God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted”. Jesus teaches us in His Sermon on the mount, that it’s ok to be sad. He wants us to be sad for the world. He teaches us that we will be blessed when we are, and it is ok for our hearts to break for what breaks His heart. In fact, He wants us to use our grief for His good by showing others the way back to Him.
This world doesn’t take God by surprise. He knew exactly what was going to happen and that we would be the very ones that destroy it with continued sin and evil deeds. But it is through those heartbreaking times that God does his best work. In us. And through us! It is through that heartbreak, that redemption takes place.
He provided us a way to be the light in this dark world. When His Spirit indwells in us, we are unstoppable. We are empowered and entrusted to do what we cannot do without him. We are comforted by Him with great joy and peace when we overcome the darkness by sharing His light. It not only blows away the dark clouds that sit over our heads and clouds our hearts, but it also brings hope to an otherwise hopeless world.
So next time we hear about a shooting, a road rage incident, or war crimes against humanity, let us be sad. Let us go to the Father with our broken hearts and seek how we can help. We may not be able to change the whole entire world. But we can light up our world by lighting up the world around us! We can show the world that Jesus can’t be stopped. His light will not be hidden by the dark and evil deeds surrounding us. And His light in us will be what points people back to Him.
Don’t be discouraged my friends. And don’t go run and hide. Face it head on knowing that your comfort, your peace, your motivation, and your victory will come because you mourned. Because you cared. And because you didn’t let it stop you.
“God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted”
Matthew 5:4
**Photo credit – Susan Dodson – Titanyen, Haiti**
