This article is based on Pastor Adrian Rogers' message, Bright Lights in a Dark World.
Jesus said we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Both salt and light have to be applied.
When salt is applied, it goes inward and disappears. Light comes from within and appears outwardly. Salt speaks of character. Light speaks of our testimony. What the world needs is both penetration and illumination, both character and confession. And no Christian is excused from this duty!
Jesus said,
You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:13-16).
These verses are from the Sermon on the Mount, in northern Galilee. To whom was He speaking? To the villagers there, to His disciples. Fisher-folk. A motley crew! He was not in Athens, speaking to the intelligentsia. He was not in Rome, speaking to imperial and military might. The Galileans were hillbillies of that day. But to these people, Jesus said, “You are the light of the world.”
Imagine them thinking: “Who, me?”
But that is what Jesus said. And the original Greek used for you in this verse is emphatic. It means “you and nobody else.”
How does God intend to get His work done in this world? You, Church: the salt and light of the world. God’s plan is to use ordinary people to do extraordinary things. That is the wonderful thing about the Gospel.
In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight (Luke 10:21).
Through the cross, even a little child can know the heart of God and understand the mysteries of life and death.
The world looks at us everyday Christians and says, “They don’t count.” The world puts emphasis upon beauty, brains, and bucks. But Jesus puts emphasis upon character and revelation.
Pastor Adrian Rogers told a story:
Some time ago, I was in Moscow, Russia. I preached in a beautiful music hall. Some of the city leaders were there, and after I preached they wanted to talk.
A man said to me, “I study philosophy and I belong to a philosophical society. It seems to me that there are two ecologies: a higher ecology and a lower ecology. Would you agree?”
I said, “Yes sir, I would.”
He said, “It seems that these two ecologies are in constant conflict with each other. Would you agree?”
I said, “Yes. Sir, what you call the higher ecology is God. What you call the lower ecology is the power of Satan. These are in constant conflict. But the Bible teaches that the Son of God is Jesus Christ, who died for our sins. And if we will repent of our sins and receive Christ into our hearts as our personal savior, Christ lives on the inside. And then the Bible says, ‘He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world’ (1 John 4:4). You can overcome the lower ecology because the Lord of the higher ecology, Jesus Christ Himself, gives you power day by day.”
The man got out his writing pad. He said, “Give me that again. I want to hear that again.”
Little boys and girls in Sunday schools know these things, but he did not! Do you know why he did not know it? The same reason you would not have—unless somebody told you.
When you got saved, you were saved to shine the light of the good news.
Are you ashamed to carry a Bible to work?
When you go out to lunch with your buddies, do you bow your head and thank God for the food? Do you invite them to do so?
Do people know that you are a Christian?
Or are you hiding your lamp under a bushel, ashamed of the one who died for you? The light is indeed burning—but you are smothering the light. Jesus told us this is foolishness.
Now you may think, “But you don’t know where I work. I work with a bunch of pagans. If you only knew the dirty jokes, the gossip, the blasphemy I am around all day…”
Why do you think God put you there?
We are to shine as lights in a dark world.
It does not make any difference how grand you are, or are not. Which is more important in a house: the chandelier in the foyer, or the bare light bulb that keeps you from breaking your neck on the basement steps? Let your light shine. It’s not your light, anyway; Christ is the light of the world. What you have is Him shining in you.
There is somebody you can influence for Christ. Find them.
The Lord was talking about us each personally, and about the Church collectively.
Many of us together can glow for the Lord Jesus Christ and make an impact that we cannot make by ourselves. We need one another. The church is the city of God, and we are to be living in an elevated place, in full view of the world.
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:14).
This is our privilege, and our duty, until the end of the age.
You may be called to global missions, bringing the Gospel message to the ends of the earth, making disciples of all nations. God is the one who makes missionaries. If this is His will for you, He will make it clear to you.
Or, you may very well be called to stay right where you are: being an active and eager congregant, looking for ways to serve your local church and see it grow.
In either case, examine your heart’s attitude to see that you are ready.
When you are right with God, filled with the Holy Spirit of God, you do not have to make yourself shine. You will shine. When you are thoroughly right with God, winning souls to Jesus Christ is automatic. Simply have a heart that is willing.
In the Christian life, there is no shining without burning. Are you willing to be consumed? Are you willing to burn out for the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ?
We are our own biggest enemies. “Self” is, and always will be, our greatest obstacle. Christ must be on the throne, and Self on the cross. “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4).
The purpose of life is not to find our freedom, but to find our Master. Jesus revealed, by example, that true humility is not thinking lowly of yourself. It is knowing who you are, and yet thinking of other people. It is a selfless life, spent showing God’s love to others.
The good news is that King Self was already crucified when Jesus died for you. But now you must recognize it and act upon it.
Jesus says, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). That is, that they may see your Christ-likeness.
Apart from Jesus, there is no salvation, no forgiveness of sins, no relationship with God, and no Heaven. Without Jesus, a person will suffer the punishment for sin in Hell. This is the Gospel.
There is no formula for starting a conversation about Jesus. Simply ask God for opportunities, and then take them as God brings them.
You have lost family members, lost neighbors, and lost business associates. Judgment for them may be much closer than you realize. And we have more opportunities, more ability to communicate, and more tools than any generation of the Church has ever had.
Listen closely as your friends, coworkers, and neighbors talk about what's happening in their lives. Salvation in Jesus is not just about meeting people’s needs. But those kinds of situations open the door for introducing people to what they really do need most: peace with God, through Jesus Christ. Ask them if they know Jesus. Trust the Holy Spirit to take the conversation from there.
Your responsibility to those you lead to Jesus is plain and simple: you are not supposed to leave them to figure things out on their own. You are not supposed to abandon them as orphans in the family of God. Jesus’ last command to His disciples was to “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19; emphasis added). This verse shows us the appropriate follow-up to evangelism: discipleship, and baptism.
To disciple people means to teach and train them. Jesus taught His disciples as they lived life together. He demonstrated how to think, speak, act, and live. We do the same thing with those we lead to Jesus—but instead of teaching them to look and live like us, we are pointing them to look and live like Jesus, not to look or live more like us.
Take new believers under your wing. Read the Bible with them. Show them by example how to live a life that honors God and reflects Christ Jesus.
You are a disciple of Jesus. Are you making disciples of others? The Apostle Paul said, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:11). Will you be able to say that to the next person you lead to Jesus?
Matthew 5:13-16, 28:19; Luke 10:21; 1 John 4:4; Philippians 2:4; 1 Corinthians 1:11
But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62).
Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 21:13).
And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved (2 Corinthians 12:15).
