This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine
Won’t let Satan blow it out, I’m gonna let it shine
Hide it under a bushel – No! I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine till Jesus comes, I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!
As a young girl and now a mom to two daughters, I remember singing this little tune many times in my life. It’s interesting how such a simple song for children written so many years ago can have so much meaning. Its message and profound lyrics rang true then and ring true still.
Sadly, so many Christians are not letting their light shine. Sadly, too many have let their light grow dim.
So many have become desensitized to sound doctrine. So many have teeter tottered and tried to tiptoe around the Ten Commandments – treating them as suggestions rather than God’s unchanging, holy rules. So many have made excuses. So many have compromised and become comfy with the world, a world that desperately needs every light shining bright.
Matthew 5:14-16 says, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. 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. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
1 Peter 2:9 explains, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.”
Jesus himself stated, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).
What does scripture say concerning a believer’s relationship with the world?
“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James 4:4).
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2).
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15).
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).
“For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20).
As Christians, we are called to shine bright.
We can’t afford, and those in the world can’t afford the light of good and hope to grow dim. As believers, our love for our Savior – the One who rescued us – should take first place in our hearts. The love we have because of all He gave should naturally propel us to shine bright and share the hope we have with a lost and dying world.
We should never run after the desires of the world but instead hold strong to the only truth and only pursuit worth pursuing… loving God, loving others, and sharing the hope we have with those God puts in our path.
Take a moment to think of the moment you came to salvation.
Now, go a step further and think for a minute more… put yourself in the shoes of one who has not yet accepted Christ as Savior… who does not have a personal relationship. Then, look around at our world. How must that person be feeling today?
What must it be like to live in the mind, the life of one who does not know the Lord? What emotions must be taking over when a nonbeliever sees our world being torn in every direction and falling apart at the seams? When every day, the daily headlines seem worse than the day before. When the love of many is waxing cold. When lawlessness seems to be winning and morals are slipping away. When there are wars and rumors of wars. When nature is groaning and dying off. When evil is celebrated and what was always seen as good is now suddenly turned on its head and called evil.
How must it be to feel hopeless and stalled in place while daily being bombarded with depressing news painting pictures of depravity, despair, and hopelessness?
What emotions must one be feeling when they see a good future for their children slipping away at the hand of an ungodly government?
What thoughts must be going through the mind of those who can’t see a ray of hope or rescue in such a dark and broken place?
It’s difficult for many Christians to take it all in at times and not become discouraged, or at times depressed, at all that we’re seeing. As a Christian, my head is spinning from all the negative news and seeing the evil rising in our nation and across the world. It’s difficult to not have a sense of worry and fear at times.
YET we have our Savior… we have hope, we have His promises, we have His peace, we have an understanding due to the Bible of what’s happening around us. We know the end of the story. We’ve been rescued and have a bright and beautiful future for all eternity in which to look forward. We know this world is not our home… it was never meant to be our home. It’s a temporary place… we’re Heaven-bound!
An unbeliever does not have such peace, and no number of self-help books or trips to a therapist will fill the void that can only be filled through Jesus. Nothing can bring hope, relief, joy, and peace apart from Jesus.
Yes, there will be many in the world who believe they don’t need the Savior. They may say they are getting along just fine, but the reality is EVERYONE needs the Savior… everyone!
Our heavenly Father has placed us in this world, in this moment, for such a time as this. If there was ever a time to let our light shine, it’s now. If there was ever a time to share the gospel, it’s now. If there was ever a time to pray for the lost in this world, it’s now.
As a believer in Christ, you have everything. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, you have everything… everything that’s important… everything that makes life worth living. You have His love, His gift of salvation, His promises, His Holy Spirit, His protection, His peace. You have a very, very, very bright future ahead of you. An inheritance so incredible that our minds cannot even comprehend.
For so many, this is not their reality. Their reality is defined by the world and circumstances they live in… a world that’s growing darker by the day. A world that so desperately needs the light of the Son.
Christians… get your lights ready. Let others see the love and light of Jesus shining through you.
It’s time to shine, brother in Christ.
It’s time to shine, sister in Christ.
As the song so poignantly and perfectly coveys,
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine
Won’t let Satan blow it out, I’m gonna let it shine
Hide it under a bushel – NO!
I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine till Jesus comes, I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine over the whole wide world, I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!
Go, Shine bright. Shine like never before!