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What is the Light Within Us?

 

 

A Puzzling Verse

 

The following verse has puzzled many people for a long time. Is this a discrimination against people with poor eyesight? What is the light within us? And how is this related to our eyes?

 

But if your eye is bad/evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! ~ Matthew 6:23

 

 

What is Light?

 

First, let us find out what is light and where does light come from.

 

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. ~ Genesis 1:1-3

 

In a place of total darkness, Light was created by God! Light comes from God and In fact, God Himself is the Light. This is further confirmed by Jesus who is the express image of God.

 

God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. ~ 1 John 1:5

 

Then Jesus spoke to them (the crowd) 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 8:12

 

 

The Light in Us is the Word of God

 

By teaching us His Word, Jesus has put His light within us. This light guides us and shows us the right way of life.

 

To illustrate with an example, someone has offended us and we wanted to take revenge. However, remembering that Jesus taught us to “love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us” (Matthew 5:43-44), we decide to forgive the offender. This is the Word of God working in us.

 

 

Cause of Darkness

 

The Scripture tells us that “if our eye is bad/evil, our whole body will be full of darkness” (Matthew 6:23). This is because we can choose what we see and put into our minds. If we choose evil and keep our eyes on lusts, material comfort and false teachings of this world, our bodies will be filled with darkness. 

 

As we can see in our world today, increasing number of people feel lost when they face difficulties, and then they turn to drugs, alcohol and other worldly methods to find relief. However, these methods obviously do not solve their problems, and they keep stumbling, not even knowing why they stumble and how to find a way out. As it is written:

 

The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble. ~ Proverbs 4:19

 

 

Jesus’ Disciples are the Light of this World

 

Jesus said His disciples should be the light of this world (as He is) because He has given us His Word. We can put His Word into actions to show the world a better way to deal with all the challenges we face in our lives. (Please see our blog post "Generational Curse in God's Family Broken by Joseph").

 

When someone is sick, he can choose to trust and not to fear. When he is offended, he can choose to forgive and not to take revenge. Even though God’s Word may seem difficult to follow in the beginning, this is what will eventually put an end to all the sufferings we may be experiencing and bring peace to the whole world.

 

(Jesus said to His disciples) “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.” ~ Matthew 5:14-16