Benjamin Franklin is often credited with bringing streetlights to Philadelphia. In the 1750’s, he proposed legislation to make the streets of Philadelphia cleaner and safer. He designed a flat-paned glass lamp that burned longer, stayed cleaner, and cost less than the blown glass bowls used at the time.
But Franklin himself admitted that streetlights in Philadelphia did not originate with him.
In 1751, a private citizen named John Clifton hung a lamp outside his home. Every evening, he went outside and lit it. Neighbors noticed the warm glow lighting his door and steps. Passersby benefited from the light spilling into the street. Before long, others began hanging lamps outside their homes.
What began with one lamp helped an entire city see the need for light.
We live in a dark world. Dangers lurk around every corner. The devil hides in the shadows, trying to trap us with his lies. Many aimlessly wander through life, lost in the darkness of sin and unbelief.
Their wandering ends in the darkness of death – the darkness of hell.
Jesus came as a light shining in a dark place. He came to expose the danger of sin, death, and the devil. He came to show the way to the Father through faith in him.
And one of the ways Jesus now shines that light is through us.
“You are the light of the world,” Jesus said. “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14,16).
To be clear, we have no light of our own. We are like the moon. The moon is only a dark rock. It shines because it reflects the light of the sun.
Like the moon, we reflect the light of the Son.
And you’ll notice that Jesus didn’t say, “Be the light of the world.” He said, “You are the light of the world.” Through faith in Jesus, that is who we are. As we live in the light of Christ’s love, that light naturally shines through what we do and say.
Sadly, we still have a sinful nature that is ashamed to stand out. Sometimes we would rather blend into this dark world than be seen as different. So we hide our light.
But a lamp is not lit to be hidden. It is lit to give light. When you let your light shine – when your words are true, when your life is pure, when your love is sincere – others can see it.
They will see the ugliness of darkness and the beauty of Christ.
They will see the way home.
And one light encourages another. When we let our light shine, others are encouraged to do the same.
So don’t hide who you are. Let your light shine so the whole city can see.
Pastor Andrew Schroer has been a pastor for over 25 years and is currently serving at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Edna, Texas. You can find his latest books, “364 Days of Thanksgiving” and “364 Days of Devotion,” on Amazon.com.
