What is Our Purpose in this World as Followers of Jesus Christ?
Once
we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and are “born of water and the
Holy Spirit”, we are charged with a great responsibility. This great
responsibility is to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. What
does it mean to be salt and light and how do we become the salt of the earth and
the light of the world?
Let it be observed, that
while the two figures of salt and light both express the same function of true
believers and followers of Jesus Christ - their blessed influence on their
fellow men -they each set this forth under a different aspect. Furthermore, to
be the light and salt means that true followers of Jesus Christ have to be
different from the world and through this difference impact the world. In fact,
as true followers, we are not here to be part of the darkness, as it is written
in 1 John 2: 15-17:
“Do not love
the world or the things in the world.
If anyone
loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that
is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of
life--is not of the Father but is of the world. And the
world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God
abides forever.”
What's
the primary use of light?
Why
did Jesus Christ say that true believers are the light of the world? What Does It Mean to be the Light of the World?Light is used for one to
see one's way in darkness. Light allows those who are in darkness to see their
way.
The Earth is in darkness because of man's rebellion against God, His principles
and laws. When Adam and Eve sinned, they did not sin for themselves alone, but,
from their privileged position as the first, originally sinless couple, act as
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representatives for the entire human race. Since then sin, sinfulness, and the
consequences of sin have marred all of us and plunged our world into darkness
and under the power of Satan.
Into this darkness, God
sent His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to give light to it. Those who follow
Jesus Christ have Him and therefore they have the light that dispels the
darkness of sin in this world.
True believers and followers of Jesus Christ are
given the following two responsibilities:
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Provide spiritual light
in the great darkness of sin and ignorance by teaching and example
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Carry and spread
light of the Gospel of
the Kingdom of God all over the world so that many would turn from the
darkness of sin and spiritual ignorance to the marvelous light of divine grace.
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Let your light shine!
True believers and
followers of Jesus Christ are admonished to
“let
your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your
heavenly Father."
"As
nobody lights a lamp only to cover it up, but places it so conspicuously as to
give light to all who need it, so the true believers and followers of Jesus
Christ, being the light of the world, must do.
Don't lose your light!
Instead of hiding their light, the true believers and followers
of Jesus Christ must be shining examples of holiness in the darkness so that
they who live in darkness may see what lives they lead, and seeing this, may
glorify their Father for so redeeming, transforming, and ennobling earth's
sinful children, and opening to themselves the way to like redemption and
transformation.
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