LIGHT OF THE WORLD

Text: Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.       14Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.       15Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.       16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.      Salt is a preservative and enhances flavor.      Ye are the light of the world. He didn't say that you can be or should be. He said you ARE. Perhaps Jesus was talking about the church collectively.      Isaiah 2:2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.      Verse 15. You can't hide your light. If you put it under a bushel, it will catch the basket on fire.      Verse 16 says to let your light shine. It doesn't say MAKE your light shine. Where does light come from? John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.      The light comes from Jesus. We have Jesus in our lives, so we don't walk in darkness. Light displaces darkness      Genesis 1:4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.      When we let the light shine, it displaces darkness. The more we shine, the greater the distance we are from darkness.                John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.        Light represents righteousness and darkness represents evil. Maintain the light      Oil is the fuel that keeps the light burning. Oil represents the spirit of God.      Matthew 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.       2And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.       3They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:       4But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.       5While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.       6And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.       7Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.       8And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.      9But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.      10And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.      11Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.      12But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.      13Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.      1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.           We are not asked to run, only to walk. Just be yourself. Do that which comes naturally. LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE.           Psalm 112:4 Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.