Flashlight: Matthew 5:14-16
Photo by Josh Felise on Unsplash
I got a flashlight for Christmas when I was little. My parents knew I liked to read long after bedtime, and they were okay with that. So they bought me a simple red Eveready flashlight. I actually looked forward to the dark hours after my brother fell asleep. I even looked forward to going to bed.
Later in life, I was a camp counselor, and we had "Night Games" planned in the woods for the campers: tag, capture the flag, that sort of thing. So I bought a really nice flashlight, black steel, bright lamp, more batteries required. Once again, I looked forward to the darker hours so I could use that flashlight.
Jesus told his followers in the "Sermon on the Mount" that they were to be salt and light: "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16 ESV).
If "you" are the light, then "people" who light the light is Jesus himself. "People" do not purchase a flashlight planning to leave the batteries out of it and lose it in a closet. Instead, "people" get the flashlight ready for use and do not fear the night, since they have a light.
We flashlights shouldn't be surprised when there are dark hours or dark times. We who put our hope in Jesus were redeemed by Jesus through his cross and resurrection to be equipped for the darkest hours of the night. Jesus is not afraid of these dark hours. At all.
In the "Sermon on the Mount," those dark hours include the following times:
"Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you" (5:11).
"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also" (5:38).
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (5:43).
"Which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?" (6:27).
The dark hours—when you are falsely accused, when you are disrespected, when you have enemies, when you have uncertainty—these are the times you are made for, redeemed for. So, hey, all you flashlights, don't be surprised when night comes and it's dark out there. You were made for it. Equipped for it. Jesus put the batteries in you so that he could shine you around in these hours. Be the flashlight. Shine the light!