Shining as Lights in the World
"Among whom ye shine as lights in the world." Said Jesus, "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid." Matt. 5:14. This is sometimes quoted "cannot easily be hid," but the Lord did not say so. He said it "cannot be hid." When a man professes the name of Christ, men themselves expect him to depart from iniquity. Wherever he is known he cannot be hid. If his life is consistent with his profession, well; if it is otherwise, it cannot be hid. So with the light. "Ye shine," says Paul. We often hear persons say, "I want my light to shine." We need have no care about the fact of its shining. "Ye are the light," says Christ. "Ye shine," says Paul. If we have professed the name of Christ, our light will shine, and we cannot prevent it. But how it shall shine is for us to control. "If therefore the light that is in263thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!" Matt. 6:23. "Take heed therefore that the light that is in thee be not darkness." Luke 11:35. It is not the fact of our light shining, but the manner of its shining, about which we are to be concerned. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works." "Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles; that, whereas they speak against you as evil doers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation." 1 Pet. 2:12.