Healing Rays of Righteousness

Many years ago, before there were electric lights, the poet, Robert Louis Stevenson, looked out his window one evening and saw the town lamplighter coming down the street, lighting the streetlamps in succession. Stevenson was impressed by the sight and authored a poem about the lamplighter who went along “punching holes in the darkness.” 

Many more years before Robert Louis Stevenson, the Gospel writer, John, records Jesus saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (8:12).And then in Matthew’s account, we hear Jesus saying to his disciples, “You are the light of the world.” (5:14).

What does this imagery of being “light” mean to you? What do you think Jesus intended to illustrate to us? Could it be that Jesus used this imagery to illustrate the purpose and behavior he expects from his followers? I think so and suggest we consider the following works of light.

Light Reveals. It penetrates darkness and makes known what lies hidden in the darkness. Light shows the path or road, giving both direction and the condition of the way ahead, and warns of obstacles and danger. Light reveals both the good and the bad, truth and lie, beauty and ugly. As followers of Jesus, being light means we penetrate the world’s darkness and make known God’s presence, God’s truth, God’s will. Being light means we bring certainty, direction, purpose, and meaning into our communities of confused and hopeless neighbors.

Light Warms. It penetrates coldness. Like the sun’s warmth, light radiates an invitation to enjoy beauty and warm comfort. As followers of Jesus, being light means we are to be a warm, comforting presence, radiating God’s glowing lovein a world of lonely coldness. Being light means we are Christ’s presence in the school, business, shop, and marketplace, revealing to all that there is more to life than selfish greed and deadly individualism.

Light Awakens. It penetrates sleep. Each morning, we are awakened to a new day with its new possibilities. As followers of Jesus, being light means we awaken people to the reality of God’s Kingdom being present, and that his Lordship over all of his creation is the only source of ultimate truth, power, and hope for any and all of us.

Light Energizes. It penetrates depression and decay. We cannot physically live without light. It takes light to stimulate and encourage growth and healing. And so, as followers of Jesus, being light means we infuse and stimulate aliveness and growth, encouraging healing and hope in communities plagued by dark depression and hopelessness.

Furthermore, Jesus tells us that the purpose of light is both to be seen and to be of service to others. This visibility and service is expressed by Jesus with two illustrations, “A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 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.” (Mt. 5:14-16).

There can be nothing secretive or private about the Christian’s commitment to the Jesus way of life. The disciples of Jesus do not hide in fear or seek to protect self but instead live and work in places where their influence can be both seen and felt. Being light means we are a visible witness to the presence of the Kingdom of God and the rule of Christ in our world of darkness.

Yes, it is our gracious privilege and supreme duty as Jesus followers, to live each day being the community lamplighter going about. “punching holes in the darkness” so that others may see God and find their way home to God and his Kingdom. Amen!

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Ray M. Geigley – “Healing Rays of Righteousness” – www.geigler13.wordpress.com – 10/08/25