Light of the World
Dr. John K. Mathew
William Shakespeare's classical drama, Macbeth, reveals the ambition of Macbeth as he is spurred on by his wife, Lady Macbeth, ending with the murder of King Duncan. Lady Macbeth orchestrates the plot to kill the king who sleeps in Macbeth's house, not knowing the evil schemes against him. Lady Macbeth literally pushes her husband to the room where King Duncan sleeps. Hesitant yet compelled to kill his master, Macbeth cries, "Darkness come, deep darkness come."
The darkness encourages this poor man to kill his innocent master! Even Shakespeare's fictional character desires darkness to give him cover for his evil act.
Five hundred years after Shakespeare, has anything really changed? Is not our own world in which we live so filled with darkness that many show no hesitation to do evil?
Slowly, human minds tend to compromise with the darkness around them until it seems comfortable and natural to them. A popular Malayalam poet sings, "Light brings only grief, little son, darkness is so comfortable."
It is as if a 'reverse evolution' is taking place in human life. Evolutionists claim that all humanity originates in animals. For them, humans are no more than highly developed forms of monkeys. When we lose the conviction that God created man in His image, we begin to adopt and justify animal habits. The increase in crime as well as the increasing acceptance of infidelity, divorce, same sex marriage, pornography and other vices mar the image of God and ruin human society. These disturbing trends cause us to question man's destiny and future.
As Christians, what is our role in this society of darkness? How have we contributed to this chaotic situation? We must examine ourselves and ask, "Are we representing Christ, the Light of this World, in a meaningful way, or are we actually making Christ appear irrelevant to those around us?"
Jesus Christ said, "You are the light of this world". The moon does not shine by itself but only reflects the light from the sun. Instead of being a beacon or a lighthouse, the Christian community in India too often has become a smoldering wick, or a resounding gong and a clanging cymbal.
John the Baptist is the best example of, how to shine in darkness. The Scripture says, "John was a lamp that burned and gave light" (John 5:35). He emptied himself by a life style of self-denial. In Mathew, John says, "But after me will come One who is more powerful than I whose sandals am not fit to carry" (Mathew 3:1). John's humility and courage shed light upon his society, and his society benefitted from that light.
Likewise, the Church should shed its radiance upon a darkened society. The apostle Paul says, "For you were once darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord. Live as children of Light. For the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth and find out what pleases the Lord" (Ephesians 5:8-10).
An Australian bush preacher went to a little church in the bush to preach. It was dark when he arrived, and the place was without light. He wondered what to do about it. Presently, he saw twinkling lights moving about through the bush. His congregation was arriving. Each person carried a hurricane lamp, and as they came in, they placed their lamps up on a shelf around the Chapel wall. Soon, the whole place was flooded with light. Each had contributed light that dispelled the darkness.
"You are the light of the world," said Jesus to His disciples. As we each carry the light of Christ into the part of this world to which God has called each of us, so shall we help to dispel its darkness and correct its false theories of life.
We who represent Christ - the Light of the world--should set an example, to clearly reveal God's Light to man.
