Living Witnesses

GOLDEN TEXT: “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

MATTHEW 5:13-16; ACTS 8:4-6; II CORINTHIANS 5:14-20

IN JOHN 8:12 Jesus is quoted as saying, “I am the light of the world.” How wonderful that this same honor should be bestowed by him upon his consecrated followers, those who are chosen out of the world to be his ambassadors! It means that the only light of divine truth there has been in the world during the present age has been shining out from the footstep followers of the Master. A truth-enlightened Christian who recognizes this, and properly esteems the responsibility and the honor which it implies, could never become lax in witness work.

We can be the light of the world only if we let our light shine; and, if we do let our light shine before men, they will see our good works and glorify our “Father which is in heaven,” if not in this age, then in their “day of visitation.” To whatever extent men see our good works, it is because of the good message we proclaim. We have nothing good in ourselves to commend to the world, but we have good tidings of great joy, which, to the extent it is understood and appreciated, brings glory to God.

We do not preach ourselves, but hold forth the “Word of life” amidst “a crooked and misguided generation” (Diaglott) among whom we “shine as lights in the world.” (Phil. 2:15,16) Paul told the Philippian brethren that if they continued faithful in thus holding forth the Word of life, he would “rejoice in the day of Christ” that he had not “run in vain, neither labored in vain.” In other words, Paul placed such importance upon Christians being the light of the world, he considered that if just one small congregation of Christians which he had nurtured in the truth caught this real vision of what it implied in self-sacrifice and devotion, his life’s ministry would be a great success.

On the whole, the brethren in the Early Church seemed to have this true vision of service in witnessing the truth to others. And they rejoiced in the privilege, even though it often resulted in severe persecution, not infrequently unto death. When persecuted and thereby “scattered abroad,” they were not discouraged, but “went everywhere preaching the Word.” Deacon Stephen was one who had this experience, and his faithful witness soon resulted in his being stoned to death.

Jesus said, “Ye are the light of the world,” and Paul used another expression—“ministry of reconciliation.” First, and because someone witnessed to us, we learned that we had been bought with a price, even the precious blood of Christ, and therefore did not belong to ourselves but to the Lord. Under the circumstances, the only proper answer to a good conscience was to present ourselves in full consecration to the Lord.

Our consecration accepted, “old things passed away,” and all things became new. These “all things,” Paul explains “are of God, for he hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.” Prior to this we lived for self and for the accomplishment of our own plans. Now we were given a new vocation, the carrying out of the divine plan. And what is that plan? Paul explains, “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself,” and now he has given to us the “Word of reconciliation.”

God’s plan, his design, is to reconcile the lost world, bringing the people into harmony with him that they might live. This was his purpose in sending Jesus into the world. Jesus died for the world, but the world must be enlightened concerning this glorious provision of life, so when Jesus was in the world he was the “light of the world.” But now we are the light of the world “in his stead.” We speak for him, as his ambassadors.

This marvelous position we occupy as co-workers with God and with Christ not only imposes the responsibility upon us of bearing witness to the truth, but grants the privilege of saying to anyone who has an ear to hear, “Be ye reconciled to God.” Thus, through Christ, we can assure the believer of forgiveness of sin.

The Scriptures reveal clearly, however, that during this age there will be no widespread turning to God as a result of Christian witness work. We should let our light shine as brightly as possible; but at best it will be but as the glimmer of a candle. However, in the next age, if faithful now, we will “shine forth as the sun” in the kingdom of our Father. Then the knowledge of the Lord will fill the earth.

Not many now heed the Word of reconciliation; but after the great “time of trouble” with which this age ends, through the glorified church, a “pure language,” or message, will be turned to the people, and they will all call upon God to serve him with one consent.—Zeph. 3:8,9

QUESTIONS

What relationship to Christ is implied in our being the “light of the world”?

How do Christians let their light shine?

How important did Paul consider light-bearing to be?

What are the “all things” which become new when God accepts Christian consecration?

Can we assure forgiveness of sin to those who believe?

Contrast the light-bearing of this age with what will occur during the Millennium.

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