Just so it is with all the truth and righteousness there is in the world. When you see a man who is good and Christlike, it is not because that man has the power in himself to be good, but it is because he has received that power from the Lord Jesus Christ. The light of the Sun of Righteousness has shone into that man's heart, and the light that goes out through his daily conduct and character, is only the light of the Son of God shining out through that man.
All objects which live in the sunlight drink in this light-giving power, and all people who live daily in the light of the Sun of Righteousness will partake of His nature and of His character, and then live that nature and character in their own daily lives. In this way they do as Jesus commanded, let their lights so shine, that others seeing their good work, glorify their Father which is in heaven.
You should be careful to note that Jesus does not say that we ourselves are to shine so that others may glorify us. No, not at all. Many people try to shine or to attract the attention of others to themselves, but that is not what Jesus said or meant, but rather the reverse. Neither are we to attempt to shine, or to attempt to attract the glory or honor to ourselves. Let not yourself so shine, but let your light so shine that others seeing your good works may glorify—not you, but your Father which is in heaven. We must let Jesus Christ shine in and through us.
Whenever you see men or women, or girls or boys who are living beautiful Christian lives, it is not they that light up the moral darkness that is in the world, it is Jesus Christ who lives in them and shines through them, that makes them good and holy, and consequently a source of light and blessing to all about them.
Questions.—What does Christ call Himself? What is the source of the light of the natural world? Does the sun shine by its own light? Does the moon shine by its own light, or does it reflect the light of the sun? What is the source of light displayed when coal and wood and other substances are burned? Does all natural light come from the sun? Who is the source of our spiritual light and knowledge? Are the Church and Christian people lights in the world? Do they shine of their own goodness like the sun, or are they like the moon in that they reflect the divine light? Does any person have the power in himself to be good? Where does this power to be good come from? Does Christ want us to shine as lights in the world? Are we to let our lights shine to glorify ourselves, or to glorify Christ?
