Beacons of light – Part 2

Jesus came to make us luminaries. Luminaries are pacesetters who would saturate the society with the virtues of Christ. Those through whom the world would hear the gospel of salvation and know who Christ is. The Bible says, “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father” (Matthew 5:14-16 NLT).‬

Beacons of light are meant to radiate, so that others will walk in the brightness of their light. Men walk in the brightness of the moon when it is at its peak. How would it look like if the light fails to radiate? Then it will be of no use. Unless we shine as the light in our communities, men cannot walk in our light. Unless we shine, we risk being eclipsed by darkness.

The prophet Isaiah reminds us about the importance of being beacons of light. In chapter 2:5, he invites us to walk in the light. “O house of Jacob, come and let us walk In the light of the LORD” (Isaiah2:5 NKJV). In earlier verses, 2-3, he had invited Israel to come to the mountain of the Lord’s house, where she would be taught the ways of God, so that she would walk in the paths of God. Contextually, walking in the light implies walking in the precepts of God’s word. The word of God illuminates our path.‬

Isaiah 60:1-3 contains one of the most direct commands to the Church to be God’s lighthouse. “Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising” (Isaiah 60:1-3 NKJV). Unless believers arise and shine, darkness would continue to have the upper hand. The realms and regions of darkness would hardly retreat in this end-time (Psalm 74:20; John 3:19-21; Eph. 5: 11, 13).‬

Paul re-echoes Isaiah. He encouraged the Ephesians to walk as children of light and not to have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. Believers are called to be separate; they are expected to live differently from others. Beacons of light are about character and exemplary lifestyle. Those who are beacons of light must live by example. Their lives are living testimonies. He further urged them to awake and arise. “Therefore, he says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light” (Ephesians 5:14 NKJV).‬

Paul alluded to light as an “armour.” In Romans 13:11-14, he enjoined the Romans to discard all the works of darkness and in its place to put on the “armour of light.” And with this armour, they were to “…walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy” (Romans 13:13 NKJV). The metaphor, “armour of light” means the protective covering of a holy life. The pieces of armour are detailed in Ephesians 6:14-18. The describe the elements of true Christian character. The reference may be to the glittering armour of the Romans, in contrast to the armour of darkness, which Satan gives to men.‬

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