Switched On of Switched Off?

Matthew 5:16 “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

If you did an honest self-assessment of your life, would you say that you let your light shine?

A family friend writes about a documentary on five young Australian lads who had just done a 1,800-mile cycle ride through Outer Mongolia. They were interviewed about their time – how they had handled injuries, conflicts, and other unforeseen difficulties. The interviewer then asked: “Why did you do the trip?” The last boy said that when he was younger, he had a dream, and in the dream, he stood at the end of his life before five judges who were there to pass judgment on his life. After a long silence, one of the judges threw down the gavel and said, “Guilty of a wasted life!” He said that the dream had a massive impact on him and he didn’t want to hear that verdict pronounced at the end of his real life.

The friend concludes: “This young man wasn’t a Christian. Are the children of the world more switched on than the children of light? Do we forget that one day we’ll all stand before a Judge, not just in a dream, but in reality, and we’ll be required to give account of all the deeds we’ve done and how we’ve used our talents?”

Ouch! Are the children of the world more switched on than the children of light? I take that challenge on the chin. I don’t want to be guilty of a wasted life, and I’m pretty sure you don’t either. We’re accountable for how we use our God-given talents, our time, and our willingness to shine God’s light in this dark world. Jesus is the light of the world. He lives in you. So let him shine through you today.

Lord, use me today to bring light into a dark situation for your glory. Amen!