True discipleship: Light of the world II

김정호목사 

Dr. Jung-Ho Kim, Pastor   

¹⁴ 너희는 세상의 빛이라 산위에 있는 동네가 숨기우지 못할 것이요 ¹⁵ 사람이 등불을 켜서 말 아래 두지 아니하고 등경 위에 두나니 이러므로 집안 모든 사람에게 비취느니라 ¹⁶ 이같이 너희 빛을 사람 앞에 비취게 하여 저희로 너희 착한 행실을 보고 하늘에 계신 너희 아버지께 영광을 돌리게 하라. ¹⁴ "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Mat 5:14-16)

FCF: We are likely to fail to shed the light of Christ to the world.

주제:  참된 제자는 세상의 빛이기에 우리는 세상을 향하여 하나님을 보여주는 대표자들이어야 한다.

Theme: Because true disciples are the light of the world, we should be visible representatives of God to the world.

Introduction

In 1991, I remember that winter in which my brother-in-law took me to a subdivision that was decorated with Christmas lights. I had never seen something like that in Korea. There were many houses in that subdivision. Every house was beautifully decorated with Christmas decorations and lights. Each house was differently decorated. But the whole subdivision was in perfect harmony, showing forth the glory of the birth of Christ. We were driving through the whole subdivision. It was a fantastic experience. To have the awesome view, we had to bear with the long line of cars. We had to wait more than two hours to get into the lighted subdivision. I was bored at that time. I was complaining in my heart why we wasted so much time on the road. But when I was led into our destination, my boredom and complaint immediately gave way to joy and smile as soon as I saw the dazzling beauty of Christmas lights. I kept blurting out, “Wow, it is so beautiful. It is a wonderland. It is a different world.” I felt the presence of holiness or the sense of awe before such beautifully shining lights during this 30-minute drive-through trip. I was able to sense the difference between the other parts of the town and that part of the town, the wintry darkness-covered sections of the city and the shining wonderland of the town. In the former, I felt bored, whereas in the latter, I was joyful. In the former, I felt sleepy, whereas in the latter, I came alive. In the former, we didn’t talk much, whereas in the latter, we exchanged a live chat, talking about the beauty of Christmas light. What made the difference? It was the light. The light brought us joy and vivacity. We can’t fully imagine how horrible the city of New York would be if the whole city got completely blacked out at night. Only criminals would welcome such a dark world. I can’t forget the beauty of the brightly lighted downtown of Chicago which I saw from a ferryboat in Lake Michigan. The shining skyscrapers formed a beautiful contrast to the dark backdrop of the sky. Again, the light made the difference.

Jesus has given us an honorable nickname, which is “the light of the world” that makes a difference in the world.        

In v. 14, Jesus uses a metaphor of light to describe what we are and what our responsibilities are to the world. He emphatically calls us as the light of the world: 정말 너희들이야말로 세상의 빛이로다. “None other than you, you alone, are the light of the world.” This is a powerful and honorable statement. Scripture calls God, Jesus, Israel, or Christians as light. Jews applied this term to distinguished rabbis. Jesus, designating us as the light of the world, bestows honor, dignity, and duty on His disciples. Indeed, Jesus himself is the light of the world (Jn. 8:12). God Himself is the light that gives the light of life to His people through Jesus Christ. He also gives His people the calling of the light to the world. Christ is the Source of light of life, too. We have received the light from Jesus Christ so that we reflect the light of life to the darkened world. Jesus teaches from the text that true disciples are light-reflectors of Jesus for the world. This truth demands that we are to be a visible representation of God to the world. Last Sunday, we covered the first two points, 1) true disciples are contrastively visible to the world and 2) true disciples expose the darkness of the world. Today, I will take up the last two points. Thirdly, true disciples are

I. 참된 제자는 세상과는 대조적으로 보이는 존재이다.

 True disciples are contrastively visible to the world.

II. 참된 제자는 세상의 어두움을 드러낸다.

 True disciples expose the darkness of the world.

III. 참된 제자는 빛을 비추는 일에 적극적으로 참여한다.

 True disciples actively engage in the work of shining light.

We are called the light to the world. Then, we are called to play our role actively in the world. We are not passively carrying out our responsibility to the world. As the light to the world, we are to actively engage in the work of shining our light out. The nature of light exposes the darkness of the world. Tasks of the light are twofold: life and enlightenment. In fact, by exposing the dark sins of the world, we are doing the two things.

First, we are to engage in an enlivening work. 

The light is the light of life. It is a life-giving light. Light is necessary for life. Trees can’t survive total darkness. Vegetables need light, water, and soil to grow. There is no life without light. Generally speaking, plants, animals, and people need light for life. It is true of spiritual life. Without the light of Christ, we are still under darkness, which is a symbol of spiritual death. John 1:4 says, 그 안에 생명이 있었으니 이 생명은 사람들의 빛이라. “In him was life, and the life was the light of men.” We are not the source of life. Neither are we the source of the light. God has given us the light of life. Since we have received it for free in Christ, we are to reflect the light of life to the world. Indeed, Jesus is the light of life. Without Him, there is life. With Him, there is life. If you have Christ within you, you are life within you. If you have no Christ within you, you have no life within you. This is a simple and yet profound truth.

Paul was a persecutor of the church before he got converted. He used to be in the darkness. But after he saw the resurrected Jesus appearing in the heavenly light, he became blind for three days. Though he couldn’t see with his eyes, he was able to see the world of God with his eyes of faith. Then, he was called to shine the light to the Gentile world. In Acts 26:17-18, Paul shared his testimony with King Aggripa, saying, 이스라엘과 이방인들에게서 내가 너를 구원하여 저희에게 보내어 ¹⁸ 그 눈을 뜨게 하여 어두움에서 빛으로, 사단의 권세에서 하나님께로 돌아가게 하고 죄 사함과 나를 믿어 거룩케 된 무리 가운데서 기업을 얻게 하리라 하더이다. “I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them ¹⁸ to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” The first function of the light to the world is to lead people from darkness to light. We should be ready to do all to bring them out of darkness to the light of life. We should share the light of God’s life with others who are under darkness. We should let them receive forgiveness of sins and adoption of sons among God’s family. To do so, we simply shine the light of Christ to a darkened world.

To be the light of the world surrounds life with the most stupendous responsibilities and the most solemn dignity. Even though we may not occupy positions of importance in society, yet we are the light of the world to wandering people in the ocean should watch to be rescued. If we burn dimly, dim is the world’s light, and dense its darkness. How wretched is a city at night if the lights are out! How cheerless is a room when the light is out! What would earth be without the sun? Shall the world be left in darkness through our idleness? We should shine forth the light of Jesus Christ throughout the world, so that even a single soul might find the light of life through our faithful testimony and Christ-like character. We cannot but to speak forth the gospel of Jesus Christ. We have believed in God, and therefore speak. We have felt the healing power of the gospel, and therefore we proclaim it. It is the great object of our lives to make known the gospel of Christ in every place, holding forth the word of God. In this way we become instruments of comfort, for as light chases away gloom, and it is a pleasant thing to behold the sun, so are believers the gladdeners of the world. Christ’s disciples are sons of consolation, lamps which cheer the night. Their light is a guiding light that leads wanderers to the place of rest, and a saving light, for it manifests Jesus to sinners.  

If we have eternal life, we have the light of Christ in us. Then, we will be a display of the glory of Christ’s saving light to those who are spiritually dead. But if we have no life within us, we have nothing to share with others. Therefore, we must check whether we truly have Christ within us or not. Before we lead others to Christ, we must make sure we have the light of life within us. The light we have within us is the light of life, which we must reflect to the world. The first function of light is to impart life. We must do all to serve as an enlivening light to unbelievers.

Second, we are to engage in an enlightening work. 

Darkness symbolizes ignorance. In contrast, light is a symbol of knowledge. We often call the Middle Age as a dark age, because the light of the gospel of Christ was not shining forth brightly. People were under darkness because they had no access to the light of the knowledge of God’s life-giving Word. Only a few clergymen had a privilege to read and interpret the Bible. Also, they led their Mass in Latin. So, common folks were under darkness, unable to understand what they heard. But Martin Luther spearheaded the Reformation in Germany, shining the light of justification by faith alone, grace alone, and Christ alone. He drove out the darkness of ignorance of God’s Word by translating the Latin Bible into German. He started off the fire of spiritual reformation through the whole European continent. The Reformation brought about changes in every sector of life.    

In the 18^th century, however, the Enlightenment movement put the human reason above the authority of God’s word. Since then, we have believed that we are truly enlightened through science and education, freed from the shackles of darkness. Having abandoned the light of God’s word, people have imprisoned themselves with the pride of reason. Now, they have lost the knowledge of God, the true Source of meaning and happiness. They don’t know such fundamental issues as where they are from, why they are here, and where they are going. Only God’s people, the light to the world, give them the right answers to these questions. The meaning, purpose, direction, salvation, destiny of life, and life after death, all these issues are critical to our human existence.

Who can give the light to those who are wondering over these questions? It is we who hold the light of knowledge that can enlighten the ignorant world. The apostle Peter tells us that we should pay attention to what the Bible teaches us, saying, 또 우리에게 더 확실한 예언이 있어 어두운데 비취는 등불과 같으니 날이 새어 샛별이 너희 마음에 떠오르기까지 너희가 이것을 주의하는 것이 가하니라. “And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts” (1 Pet. 1:19). We have God’s Book in which we have the light of knowledge about meaning of life, happiness in life, our identity, our duties, and our destiny. Unless we are enlightened by the light of God’s eternal truth, we can’t serve as the light of the world. Has God’s Word enlightened you about how to get right with God, for what you are created to live, where you are going to end up at the end, and so forth. To those who ask us about this light, we should be ready to give them the right answer.

Let me share a story about people in despair finding the enlivening an enlightening light of eternal life and saving knowledge. They found the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ while they were fighting for freedom in China. 조국을 등졌다. 가족들과도 생이별했다. 외국생활인지라 녹록치 않았다. 절망과 그리움에 몸부림쳤다. 그때 복음은 한줄기 빛이자 희망의 끈이었다. 1989년 6·4 천안문 민주화 운동에 앞장섰던 학생 지도자들의 이야기다. 시위주동자로 지명수배됐던 이들이 고통을 딛고 속속 크리스천이 되고 있다. 부흥사, 이라크전 참전 군목 등 목회자가 되는가 하면 개인 기업과 NGO 등을 일구며 빛과 소금의 역할을 하고 있다. 이들은 한결같이 “기독교 신앙만이 개인 인생뿐 아니라 자유 민주주의를 추구하는 종착점”이라고 강조한다. 89년 지명수배자가 된 21명 학생 지도자 중 4명이 목회자 또는 평신도 지도자가 됐다. 민주화 운동 당시 ‘중국의 잔다르크’로 불린 차이링(柴玲)은 중국정부의 학생 지명수배자 21명 명단 중 세 번째에 올라있었다. 그는 10개월간 도피생활 중 숱한 체포 위기를 넘긴 뒤 배에 실린 나무궤짝에 들어가 5일간 몸을 숨겨 90년 부활절 전야 홍콩으로 탈주한 데 성공했다. 이어 프랑스 파리를 거쳐 미국으로 갔다. 차이링은 그때 심정을 “어릴 적 느꼈던 공포와 고독 그 자체였다”고 술회했다. 베이징대 캠퍼스 커플이자 민주화 운동 동지였던 펑충더와도 망명 후 헤어졌다. 설상가상 사랑하는 어머니와 할머니가 연이어 세상을 떠났지만 마지막을 지켜볼 수 없었다. 심적 고통 속에 죽음까지도 생각했었다. 그때 미국 화교교회는 그의 버팀목이 됐다고 한다. 프린스턴대 국제 관계학 석사와 하버드대 경영학석사 학위를 마친 그는 미국회사에서 일하던 중 미국 기독교인 로버트 A 매긴 주니어를 만나 결혼, 현재 세 아이의 어머니이자 인터넷교육업체 CEO로 활동하고 있다. 어느 부활절(4월 4일) 미국 보스턴의 한 교회에서 세례를 받고 공개적으로 신앙을 고백하는 기독교인이 됐다. 차이링은 “대학재학 중 한 선배로부터 촌부가 전해준 성경과 예수 그리스도 이야기를 듣고 깊은 감동을 받은 적이 있었다”며 “훗날 기독교 신앙이 나의 삶을 사로잡을 줄 몰랐다”고 했다. 이어 “예수님은 나의 마음속 상처를 씻어주셨고 난 오랫동안 갈망했던 평정을 찾았다”며 “특히 목사님이 날 위해 성부, 성자, 성령의 이름으로 세례를 베풀 때 하나님의 영이 내 맘에 충만해진 걸 느꼈다”고 간증했다. 그는 NGO ‘모든 소녀를 허용하라(All Girls Allowed, AGA)’ 등을 설립, 중국의 가난한 이들을 돕는가 하면 여아낙태 반대운동에 앞장서고 있다. We can find people who experienced the dramatic transfer from darkness to light. Out of student activists who led the 1989 Tiananmen Square Protests, some became evangelists and Christian leaders. They had to leave their own country, separated from their families. It was hard for them to live as foreigners. They struggled in despair and nostalgia. At that time, the gospel of Jesus Christ was a ray of hope to them. The leaders of the demonstration, who were on the list of the wanted, stood on the scaffold of suffering and got converted into Christianity. Some became evangelists, chaplains, NGO leaders, playing the role of salt and light of the world. All of them emphasize their conviction with one accord, stating, “Christian faith alone is to be the final destination of both each individual and free democracy. Out of 21 on the list, four became Christian leaders. Chi-Ling, known as the Chinese “The Joan of Arc,” was on the third in the list of the wanted. She was on the run for ten months. She was able to escape from China, reaching Hong Kong one day before the Easter in 1990. She came to America via France. She recalled her flight, saying, “It was terror and loneliness of my youth.” She couldn’t see the last moments of her mother and grandmother. In extreme agony, she thought of suicide. She received a great support from her Chinese church. She earned a master’s degree in International Affairs from the Princeton University and another master’s degree in M.B.A from Harvard. After graduation, she got married with an American Christian man Robert Magin Jr. Now, she is the mother of three children. She is the CEO of Internet Education Firm. On one Easter day, she publicly professed her faith at her baptism. In her testimony, Chi-Ling said, “I was greatly moved with the story of Jesus when I heard it from one of my university seniors. I didn’t know that Christian faith would grip my heart later. Jesus cleansed the hurts in my heart and gave me the long-awaited peace. I felt the filling of the Spirit when the pastor baptized me in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” She founded “All Girls Allowed, AGA.” She is helping the poor in China and leads an opposition group against young girls’ abortion. She is an example of people who received the light of the gospel and shines the light of the gospel of life to the people who need it. Her transformed life is a story about God’s saving grace. It is a testimony of Jesus Christ, the light of life and wisdom.                   

We are to be visible through our status and deeds, engaging actively in the enlivening and enlightening work of light in the world. Then, the question is why we are doing all this. The final point gives answer to this. That is…

IV. 참된 제자는모든 것을 하나님의 영광을 위하여 한다.

 True disciples do all for the glory of God.

In v. 16, Jesus tells us that unbelievers will see our good works and come to glorify our Father in heaven. It seems that “good works” is a general expression to cover everything a Christian says and does because he is a Christian, every outward and visible manifestation of his Christian faith. Also, we can say “good works” are works of love as well as of faith. They express not only our faithfulness to God, but also our care for our fellows. The apostle John says, ⁹ 빛 가운데 있다 하며 그 형제를 미워하는 자는 지금까지 어두운 가운데 있는 자요 ¹⁰ 그의 형제를 사랑하는 자는 빛 가운데 거하여 자기 속에 거리낌이 없으나 ¹¹ 그의 형제를 미워하는 자는 어두운 가운데 있고 또 어두운 가운데 행하며 갈 곳을 알지 못하나니 이는 어두움이 그의 눈을 멀게 하였음이니라. ⁹ Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. ¹⁰ Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. ¹¹ But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes (1 Jn. 2:9-11).

“Love by faith” is the gist of “good works.” Indeed, the primary meaning of “works” must be practical, visible deeds of compassion. It is when people see these, Jesus said, that they will glorify God, for they embody the good news of His love which we proclaim. Without them our gospel loses its credibility and our God his honor. If we behave like our Father in the world, then people of the world will see God through our good works, then develop interest in Him, and ultimately come to know Him and glorify Him. This is the purpose of our good deeds. Again, our good works are visible to God and others except ourselves. In other words, we do good deeds not to draw attention to ourselves but to God. In 1 Cor. 10: 31, Paul says, 그런즉 너희가 먹든지 마시든지 무엇을 하든지 다 하나님의 영광을 위하여 하라. “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” The twofold purpose of our good deeds, symbolized in the light metaphor, is evangelism and God’s glory.

The first purpose of good works is to win souls. 

We preach the gospel to a lost world both in words and in deeds. Our character is a message preached in deeds. We exist here to proclaim the praise of God. The apostle Peter says, 오직 너희는 택하신 족속이요 왕 같은 제사장들이요 거룩한 나라요 그의 소유된 백성이니 이는 너희를 어두운 데서 불러 내어 그의 기이한 빛에 들어가게 하신 자의 아름다운 덕을 선전하게 하려 하심이라. “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Pet. 2:9). For the truth of the gospel is the light, contained indeed in fragile earthenware lamps, yet shining through our very earthenness with the more conspicuous brightness. We are called both to spread the gospel and to frame our manner of life in a way that is worthy of the gospel.

Once again, how do we shine our light? We must proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. Also, we must pray that God sheds His saving light into the hearts of unbelievers. Paul says, ⁴ 그 중에 이 세상 신이 믿지 아니하는 자들의 마음을 혼미케 하여 그리스도의 영광의 복음의 광채가 비취지 못하게 함이니 그리스도는 하나님의 형상이니라 ⁵ 우리가 우리를 전파하는 것이 아니라 오직 그리스도 예수의 주 되신 것과 또 예수를 위하여 우리가 너희의 종 된 것을 전파함이라 ⁶ 어두운데서 빛이 비취리라 하시던 그 하나님께서 예수 그리스도의 얼굴에 있는 하나님의 영광을 아는 빛을 우리 마음에 비취셨느니라. ⁴ In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. ⁵ For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. ⁶ For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 4:4-6). We must pray for God’s regenerating and recreating work of unbelievers under darkness.

To serve as the light of the world, we also must be gripped with the cross of Jesus Christ. If we have tasted the love of God which was manifested on the cross of Christ, we cannot keep silence toward souls that are still captured in darkness. Hudson Taylors is known for his inland China mission. He is a legendary missionary who had served in China for eight decades. One day, young candidates for China missions paid a visit to him. They desired to earn some wisdom for missions. Mr. Taylor asked them, “Why do you want to be a missionary to China?” One young man replied, 저는 이 황무지와 같은 중국 대륙에 커다란 교회들이 서는 것을 보고 싶습니다. “I desire to see big churches are planted in such a desolate land as China.” Another answered, 저는 이 중국의 많은 사람들이 복음을 듣고 이 미개한 삶에서 벗어나기를 바랍니다. “I want many Chinese to hear the gospel so that they can get out of their uncivilized life.” Mr. Taylor smiled and said, “Beloved brothers, you can’t do a missionary work with such motives in the land of China.” They asked him, “What do you mean by that? Don’t you think this mission work is not important? Don’t you love China?” The old Taylor answered, 아닙니다. 나는 중국이 사랑스러워서 여기에 있는 것이 아닙니다. 그리고 이곳에서의 생활이 즐겁기 때문에 여기에 있는 것도 아닙니다. 모래 바람이 일고 미개한 사람들이 살고  있는 이 문명의 불모지가 무엇이 그리 좋겠습니까? 그러나 내 안에는, 내가 이곳에 있는 것을 원하지 않고 즐거워하지 않음에도 불구하고, 이 일을 위하여 목숨을 버릴 수 밖에 없게 만드는 그 무엇이 역사하고 있습니다. 그것은 그리스도께서 나를 위해 죽으셨다는 사실입니다. 어떻게 좋아하는 것만 하며 살다가 죽을 수 있겠습니까? “No, I am not here because China is lovely. Nor am I here because my life is pleasant in China. Is there anything desirable to live in this culturally uncivilized, barren, and sandstorm land? But, even though I do neither want to be here nor enjoy being here, I have something that works in my heart, which causes me to be willing to risk my life. It is the fact that Christ died for me. How can I live and die while doing something I desire?”

If we are failing to serve as the light to the world, we have to ask ourselves whether we truly believe the truth that Christ died for us or not. If we embrace the transforming love of the cross of Christ, we cannot but to overcome discomfort, fear, or obstacles when we share the gospel with unbelievers, so that they can receive the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Since we are given the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, we not only declare the message of the light of salvation, but also we show the light of Christ by doing others good. The best message we can preach is the best act we make to others. We ourselves are God’s message. So, we should be careful what we say and do lest the world be drawn away from the Lord Jesus Christ. Our Christian influence to the world depends on our Christian character, delineated in the Beatitudes. We preach the gospel of love in action when we are under persecution. We preach the gospel of humility in action when the world tempts us with pride. We preach the gospel of mercy in action when the world treats us without mercy. We preach the gospel of peace in action when the world tries to break peace with us. 

Second, the ultimate purpose of our good works is to glorify God.  

The reason that God saves us is that we glorify and enjoy Him forever. The ultimate purpose for which we are chosen, predestinated, forgiven, redeemed, adopted into God’s family, and given the inheritance in heaven is to praise God and glorify Him in Christ. Paul says, 이는 우리의 기업에 보증이 되사 그 얻으신 것을 구속하시고 그의 영광을 찬미하게 하려 하심이라. who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory (Eph. 1:14). We are to do all for the glory of God. Whatever we do, we are to have the glory of God in mind. Peter says, 만일 누가 말하려면 하나님의 말씀을 하는것 같이 하고 누가 봉사하려면 하나님의 공급하시는 힘으로 하는것 같이 하라 이는 범사에 예수 그리스도로 말미암아 하나님이 영광을 받으시게 하려 함이니 그에게 영광과 권능이 세세에 무궁토록 있느니라 아멘. 너희가 이방인 중에서 행실을 선하게 가져 너희를 악행한다고 비방하는 자들로 하여금 너희 선한 일을 보고 권고하시는 날에 하나님께 영광을 돌리게 하려 함이라. whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies-- in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation (1 Pet. 4:11-12).

This light will issue in good works that are seen by people, a provision that must be understood carefully, for there were people like the Pharisees who made sure that their good deeds were seen by others and it is not this Pharisaic attitude that Jesus is commending. The good works are to be seen, not in order that the doers may be congratulated as fine, upstanding servants of God, but in such a way that the observers will give glory to your Father. There is to be no parade of virtue, no attempt to win praise for oneself. It is the light that is to shine, not those privileged to be the bearers of the light. People will always see the deeds that disciples do, and disciples are to make sure that when that takes place it is the light that they will see. And they will see it in such a way that they will praise God.

The ultimate purpose of all is indeed to glorify God. When they evaluate us, unbelievers take into account the fact that we are Christians. They usually have a high expectation of our moral character. They believe, like we do, that there should an inseparable connection between our faith and God. When we truly reflect God’s moral goodness and righteousness, they are likely to believe God is alive. But when they see nothing but injustice, immorality, selfishness, greed, or divisions, then they have no reason to believe the existence of God. No matter what we preach, they wouldn’t believe in God if we show them nothing but man’s moral depravity.

Whether we preach in words or in deeds, therefore, we must keep in mind the glory of God.  Justin Martyr described the Christian of his day as follows: 우리는 서로를 미워하며 파괴하고 다른 관습을 가진 무리들과 더불어 살려하지 않았었다. 그러나 이제 우리는 그들과 친밀히 살아가고 원수들을 위하여 기도하며 우리를 부당하게 미워하는 자들을 설득하여 그리스도의 선한 명령을 따라 살아가게 하여 종국에는 모든 것의 주권자이신 하나님의 상주심에 대한 이 동일하고 즐거운 소망에 참여토록 만든다. “We who hated and destroyed one another, and on account of their different manners would not live with men of a different tribe, now, since the coming of Christ, live familiarly with them, and pray for our enemies, and endeavor to persuade those who hate us unjustly to live conformably to the good precepts of Christ, to the end that they may become partakers of the same joyful hope of a reward from God, the ruler of all.”

Let’s keep in mind we are the light of the world. So, we should behave in a way that unbelievers would recognize God working in our lives and acknowledge God’s existence. We should speak in a way that unbelievers would acknowledge the veracity of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We should bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit, so that others see God in us through His Spirit. Ultimately, we should lead people to believe and glorify God. Not only do we glorify God, but also we should make people glorify God. The glory of God is our supreme desire and pursuit. All of our character and influence should end up in God’s glory. We should do all in the power of God for His glory. Soli Deo Gloria.

Conclusion: John Stott said, 소금과 빛은 공통점이 한 가지 있다. 자신들을 주고 소모한다는 점이다. 이러한 점은 어떤 부류이든 자기 중심적 종교심과는 정반대이다. “Salt and light have one thing in common: they give and expend themselves—and thus are the opposite of any and every kind of self-centered religiosity.” This statement well sums up the message of Christ in Matt. 5:13-16.

I found a touching story that illustrates the virtue of self-sacrifice. Kevin McKay had a new nickname “the bus driver from heaven” for his bravery and heroic act. He drove the school bus along gridlocked, dark roads as pockets of fire burned all around. Nearly two dozen elementary school children were on board with him. Smoke began to fill the bus, so McKay took off a shirt. He and two teachers on the bus tore it into pieces and doused them with water. The children held the damp pieces of cloth to their mouths and breathed through them. He had been on the job, driving the bus for Ponderosa Elementary School in the northern California city of Paradise, only for a few months. Now, McKay was ferrying the 22 stranded children to safety as the Camp Fire scorched everything in its path. It would take five hours for them to reach safety.

Abbie Davis, a 29-year-old kindergarten teacher at Ponderosa, and Mary Ludwig, 50, who teaches second grade, evacuated with McKay and the students. Ludwig recalled the "the sky was really menacing." "It was very scary. It felt like Armageddon." "It just kind of looked like we'd be headed into Mordor," McKay recalled. As McKay drove away from the school on roads thick with smoke, the bus became stuck in the gridlock of vehicles trying to leave Paradise. Should they abandon the bus, they wondered? As the smoke intensified, young lungs filled up. One student complained of being tired. Davis saw other kids dozing off. The adults had to improvise. There was only one water bottle on the bus. McKay took off his shirt. They tore it up and doused the strips of cloth with water, so the students could use them to breathe properly, they recalled. "That seemed to help,"

McKay said. During the journey, McKay and the teachers also created their own emergency plan: Pair little kids with the big kids. Take roll. Get phone numbers. Review how to operate the emergency exits, first aid kit and the fire extinguisher. McKay said: "That's when we realized -- it's a silly statement, but Paradise is lost." Along the way, they picked up a passenger. She was a preschool teacher from an elementary school in the nearby city of Biggs whose car had broken down. Davis said she thought she was going to die several times along the journey. At one point, they prayed, Ludwig said. Hours later, parents and children were reunited. Recounting their escape, McKay was modest. “Safety is an important part of a bus driver's role,” he said. But Davis and Ludwig said McKay was a true hero. "We had the bus driver from heaven," Ludwig said. They were saved from the raging fires by that courageous, sacrificial bus driver.

Likewise, we are saved from the fiery condemnation of eternal punishment through the Lord Jesus Christ who gave His life for the remission of our sin. Jesus Christ is our Savior, Friend, and Lord who did everything to deliver us from the fiery hell and installed us to be His representatives to the world to talk about His love and grace. Now, we are the light of the world, reflecting the light of Jesus Christ to the world, so that the world may come to know God as its Savior and Lord. When we were saved, we were lit up by Christ, so that others could see our “lights.” We are fundamentally different from people of the world. We, we alone, are the light of the world, says Jesus. We are “little Jesuses” visible to the world, not only exposing the darkness of the world, but also reflecting the light of life and knowledge to the world. We do it all for the glory of God, intending to win as many souls as possible to the Lord Jesus. Let’s listen to the words of the apostle John: 다시 밤이 없겠고 등불과 햇빛이 쓸데 없으니 이는 주 하나님이 저희에게 비취심이라 저희가 세세토록 왕노릇하리로다. “There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign forever and ever” (Rev. 22:5). We have hope in the eternal kingdom of God where God will be the Light shining over the entire kingdom. With that hope, let’s keep in mind that we are the privileged light of God to the world. Let’s make the world brightened with the light of Jesus Christ, so that the world may glorify our heavenly Father. 

Benediction

하나님은 복되시고 홀로 한 분이신 능하신 자이며 만왕의 왕이시며 만주의 주시요 ¹⁶ 오직 그에게만 죽지 아니함이 있고 가까이 가지 못할 빛에 거하시고 아무 사람도 보지 못하였고 또 볼 수 없는 자시니 그에게 존귀와 영원한 능력을 돌릴찌어다 아멘. God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, ¹⁶ who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen. (1 Tim. 6:15-16)