Jesus is the light of the world. John 8:12 “Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.’” John 1:4-9 “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.”
There are several ways that Jesus is the spiritual light of the world. First, He came to proclaim truth. John 18:37 “Pilate therefore said to Him, ‘Are You a king then?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.’” Jesus combated falsehood (darkness) by teaching the truth (light). Jesus is also the way. John 14:5-6 “Thomas said to Him, ‘Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” Jesus is light in that He has shown us the way to the Father and to eternal life. Jesus also demonstrated God’s righteousness (light). John 3:19-21 “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”
When you obey Jesus, stand for the truth, and practice righteousness, you also are a light. Ephesians 5:8-11 “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.” Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
God wants you to be a light in the world. You are not to blind people with your light by forcefully shining your light in their faces. But neither should you attempt to hide the fact that you are different from the world as a disciple of Jesus Christ. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Consider several ways that your light should shine in the world. Ephesians 5:3-4 “But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.” When your life is free from any form of sexual immorality, uncleanness, or covetousness, you will be a light in the world. When your speech is free from all cursing, swearing, bad jokes and foolish talking, and instead is filled with thankfulness for all the blessings you receive, you will be a light in the world. Philippians 2:14-16 “Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.” When you don’t complain or argue or dispute with others, you will be a light in the world. Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” When you demonstrate love in all you actions, when your life is filled with joy, when you demonstrate peace in your soul, and when you are patient with others and with the trials in your life, you will be a light in the world. When you are kind and gentle in your interaction with others, when all your actions are good, when you have self-control, and when you demonstrate your faith, trust and reliance upon God, you will be a light in the world.
My encouragement to you is that you eliminate all things in your life which will dim or put out your light. 1 John 1:5-7 “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” I also encourage you to let you light shine in the world. Don’t be ashamed that you are a follower of Jesus and you are different from others who do not know Him.