Let me tell you why you are here.
You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth.
If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your
usefulness and will end up in the garbage. "Here's another way to put it:
You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a
secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill.
If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a
bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on
a light stand--shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up
to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in
heaven. Matt
5:13-16 (Msg)
The salvation experience is the beginning of a very exciting
journey and not an end in itself. It is the birth of a new you, the beginning
of the rest of your life. We are saved to live the life of God that we have
received. Your job description as a Christian is to get trained and built up in
the church; As you grow, you then go and light up your world, your world being
anywhere and everywhere you transact or/and interact. For effectiveness, God
appointed some to be ministry gifts for the purpose of equipping the vast
majority to do ‘ministry’.1 Ministry here means serving others in
the name of the Lord Jesus. You are no less a Christian being a ministry gift
than you are not being one. So, it is okay if you are not a pastor or a teacher
in your church, your purpose is to light up your world.
A light is only truly useful in darkness, there is no need
for a candle light in the noon day nor is it of much use under the flood light.
It can only fulfil its purpose in the midst of darkness. If the only time you
shine is in the company of other believers or when you are in your church then
you are not serving much use. God placed you in that organization so that you
can shine and show forth his glory. The reason you have that business is to
show the light to all around you of what God can do through a man or woman who
loves him. As a student, God is counting on you to attract your world to your
light by your diligence and excellence. The ultimate goal is that they might
see your good works and glorify your father who is in heaven.2
“Oh, I don’t mix business with religion” you say, well,
you don’t have to. Christianity is not a religion, it is a life. It is not an
act you put on for certain days or some group of persons; it is your life, your
minute-by-minute 24/7 life. It is to be expected that your business cannot
therefore be different from your life, but only a product of it. Your politics,
studies, speech, finances, career etc are all products of your life and cannot
be separated from it. Scriptures say that by their fruits you shall know them.3
Your actions and your works should be products of the life you have received.
While we were saved by grace and
cannot earn acceptance with God by works, yet our good works is what we will be
rewarded on.4 The bible clearly states that “we are his workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we
should walk in them.”5 Paul also wrote to Titus that “this is a
faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they
which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works”.6
So good works does not make us right with God but it is the product of our
“already made right with God” life. Let your love, faith, patience, integrity,
diligence, all examples of good works, go beyond the church walls and
practically impact your colleagues, family, neighbours, students and all
persons in your sphere of influence.
You are not ‘The Light’ but rather a reflector of the light
and you can only light your world to the extent that you reflect the light, for
of his fullness have we all received, grace for grace.7 You become
more like him as you meditate on the word of God being careful to do what is
written there in, then you are changed into the same image continuously.
Your destiny is to reflect Christ in every aspect of life for as he is, so are
we in this world.8 Without the constant hearing and studying of the
word, there is a high tendency, almost certainty, of being carried away by the
pleasures and systems of the world. It is your personal study and fellowship
with brethren that keeps you grounded.
In conclusion, the story is told of a group of salesmen rushing
not to miss the late flight back home when one of them inadvertently kicked
over a table full of apples. They all continued in their tracks save for one
who chose to miss the flight in order to rectify the mistake. He was glad he
did. The apple seller was a blind teenage girl helplessly groping for her
produce with tears running down her cheeks as the crowd kept moving pass her.
He helped her gather the scattered apples, sorted them and paid for the damaged
ones. As he started to walk away, the girl called out to him, ‘Mister, Are you
Jesus?’. May your life be so reflective of Christ, that your good works will
constantly bring glory to God.
If you have not made Jesus Christ your Lord and saviour, then life
here is anchorless and eternity is bleak. We urge you, don’t wait another
moment. Make up your mind and say this prayer:
“Dear God, I ask you to forgive me all my sins and make me anew. I
believe that Jesus died for me and you raised him up on the third day, I
confess that He is Lord now and forever. I accept your son, Jesus Christ as my
Lord and Saviour.”
Congratulations! Now that you are born again, look for a bible
believing church to attend that you might know what he has provided for you and
grow thereby.
1.
Eph 4: 11 - 15
2.
Matt 5:16
3.
Matt 7:20
4.
1 Cor 3:13-15
5.
Eph 2:10
6.
Titus 3:8
7.
John 1:16
8.
1 John 4:17
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