Ye are the light of the world, a city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.  Neither 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. 

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.
                                                    Matthew 5:14-16

Jesus said, "Let your light so shine."  What does it mean to let your light shine?  What is the light ?  Is it a spotlight, an electrical light, a flashlight?  What is the light?  Before I preach I want to share something with you.

The other day I started a project -- remodeling the bathroom. It was something Lisa has wanted me to do for a long time.  Finally I broke over; I tore out the old walls and there were the copper pipes.  Now, I had watched Randy B. work on the parsonage once and I knew I could do this job because I watched him take out that solder gun and start cutting pipe.  I said to myself, "Self, that looked pretty easy and if Randy can do it, surely you can, too."  I went to Lowe's and bought me one of those soldering kits.  When I got home, I was all ready to start my project. 

I opened the kit and there was the flux, the sandpaper and the torch. But when I flipped the switch to start that torch, nothing happened; it was empty of fuel.  I said, “Isn't this great, a torch with no fuel!”  After looking on the package, it read "Fuel not included."  Why didn't I know that before I left the store?  I didn't want to go back to the store so I got out an old one someone had given me years ago.  I tried it; it worked!  A big yellow flame shot out....Man, I've got fuel!  I finished tearing all the old plumbing out. I  went back to Lowe's and bought a brand new faucet set, brand new copper fittings and brand new copper pipe. I measured everything exactly to fit---- had to measure it twice, but I had it exactly the right size. I used the flux, I cleaned those pipes to perfection.  I laid my stuff down and started soldering.  It fell to the floor!  I tried it again and again. It continued to fall off in big chunks.  I worked and worked with it, but that solder would not stick.  At two o'clock in the afternoon I started this project, and at 10 o'clock in the night, I had been to Lowe's so many times (6 times) they began waiting for me at the doorway.  I was so aggravated!  “Why in the world wouldn't it work? “  Finally, Lowe's had closed for the night. We didn't have any water.  I would solder and try to turn on the water. Water shot clear out the roof and soldering chunks had fallen all around me---It was one awful mess.         

I said,  “Lisa, I am useless.”  My exact words!   “I-am-useless!!!!”  I thought God was pouring Old Testament wrath out on me for something I had done. I was getting ready to leave the house; but before I completely gave up I remembered something. In one of my many trips to Lowe's I had picked up a little two dollar can of fuel. In my frustration,  I had forgotten about purchasing it.  So now I thought, "I'm going to try that new torch one more time before I run away from home."  I got the fuel and filled up the torch.  I lit it!  And then; the prettiest blue flame shot out.  To me, that flame was beautiful.  I cleaned my pipes, I did everything I was suppose to do, and started all over yet another time.......It worked wonderfully. 

You see,  the problem wasn't the solder; the problem wasn't the flux.  Believe it or not,  the problem wasn't the plumber either! The problem was the torch.  That big old yellow flame didn't get hot enough. The little blue flame was the answer.

Do you see the point I am trying to make?  Jesus said, ” Let your light so shine.”  In other words, not just shine but let it so shine sufficiently.  Some Christians are like that first torch.  Their light is insufficient.

If we follow Jesus, we must walk in the Light.  We are not the light but reflectors of the Light.  Let your light so shine that people can see your good works.  What are your good works?  Is it how you witness to others? Your good deeds are a natural bi-product of your faith.  Just like a tree that produces good fruit, so is our work for Jesus. Just a little flicker is not sufficient. Our actions and deeds must show the world our light for Jesus shining  through.  Every person in our midst is an open Bible.  We are a light for all the world to see. 

Today I want to speak on three things that causes our light to grow dim.

• Spiritual loneliness will cause your light to grow dim.

God didn't leave the church here for gathering money.   He didn't leave it here for bigger and better buildings  to be built, although that sometimes becomes necessary.  The church building is a place for all believers to come together and to fellowship and encourage each other.  It is a place to share God's love. It bonds us together.  It is a place to keep your lights brightly glowing.

Let me share a story with you:

A wise preacher went to visit a member of his congregation who had been absent from church for awhile.  He knocked on the door. The member came to the door and saw the preacher and invited the preacher in.  They sat down before a roaring fireplace.  For a while neither said nothing, then the preacher walked over to the fireplace,  took some tongs and laid some hot embers out on the hearth. Then he sat back down.  The ember burned for a while, then began to go out.  Eventually, the ember went black. The pastor picked it up and put it back in the fireplace. It started burning again. The church member said, “Preacher, I get your message; I'll be back to church Sunday.”

People who miss church are like those embers----First,  you cool down;  then your flame goes out.  The best place in the world to get rid of spiritual loneliness is in church.  Without church you are living in spiritual isolation. Your light is growing dimmer. 

•  Worldliness will cause your light to grow dim.

Convenient sins.  Little things known as Pet sins!  Things the devil knows will effect you.  Pet sins are like bricks.  They build and build until they build a wall that will separate you from God.  These pet sins will cause you to stray from God.    Worldliness will dim your light.  You can't be worldly and shine a light for Jesus.  Some people can fool others sometimes, but they will never fool God. They may be showing a life of goodness on the outside, but have a raging war going on on the inside.  You should have your mind set upon Jesus.  Set your affections on things above, and not things below.  We should be walking faithfully for God and letting our light shine.  If there are fleshly desires in our heart, we cannot be seen as a light  shining for Jesus to the world.  Scripture says, ” You cannot put new wine in old bottles.” 

Loneliness, Worldliness and finally --

• Self-centeredness will cause your light to become dim.

 People are only concerned about themselves.   What they will get out of this?  Have you ever given something and not expected to get anything out of it?  True love is giving without expecting anything back in return. 

Is there something in your life causing you anger and bitterness----Get over it.  “But Preacher; you just don't know what they did to me......”  Get over it!  It's not about you!  It always has been about God.

Life is too short to worry about little things.  It makes your light grow dim to carry a grudge.  One of the best things a Christian can do to demonstrate Christianity is to show love and forgiveness.  Let your light so shine.  It can't shine if you are wrapped up in self.  Don't be like that faulty torch I had.  Keep your light shining blue and bright for Jesus.  I will close on this.....There are people in this church today that are saved because they saw Jesus in someone else.  Show your light to someone.  Let them see Jesus in you. 

Bro. Jr Fields........June 18, 2006.

Sermon edited by Mary King

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