The Light of the World

Jesus said the Church is "the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid" (Matt. 5:14). This is one of the reasons He established it. And for almost 300 years the Church shined until she fell away into apostasy in 325 a.d., plunging the whole world into the Dark Ages. But she resumed shining her light when she arose out of apostasy in 1903. "Arise, shine; for thy light is come…" (Isa. 60:1).

There is only one "Light of the World." While there are many churches trying to reach people with the message of salvation, and some are getting souls saved, only The Church of God is a divinely established and commissioned lighthouse, the exclusive beacon ordained by Christ to shine forth all the light of God’s revealed truth into the four corners of this dark and sinful world. The value of the Church’s role and purpose as "The Light of the World" cannot be overestimated in the fulfilling of the Great Commission.

According to the Internet, by the end of 2015 there were an estimated 7.3 billion people living in the world in about 196 nations and 61 colonies or territories. Also during 2015, approximately 135 million people were born and about 56 million died, leaving a net increase in the world’s population of around 79 million. There are also between 6,500 and 6,900 spoken languages and dialects.

When considering these statistics, the Church should feel both a tremendous responsibility and sobering challenge: the responsibility of shining her light in a world groping in spiritual darkness and the challenge of taking the whole Gospel to the whole world and publishing it in every language. The Church will accomplish these great works and noble undertakings for prophecy declares, "For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea" (Hab. 2:14).

When Jesus moved from Nazareth to Capernaum by the Sea of Galilee at the beginning of His ministry, the Bible says, "The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up" (Matt. 4:16). What a great light they saw when the Incarnate Word of God came amongst them ministering the divine principles of God’s Word. So also did a light spring up when the Church arose out of apostasy, and people sitting in spiritual darkness could then see a great light as she shone forth the whole Bible rightly divided.

The world will learn of the whole Gospel of Christ through the preaching, teaching, and publishing of the Church, but they won’t know until she tells them! Paul asks, "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?"
(Rom. 10:14). How will people know to seek

for sanctification and the baptism with Holy Ghost if they are not told about these precious truths? What about the good news of divine healing, the pre-millennial second coming of Jesus, and the ordinances to observe?

And how will others ever know that The Church of God is the Bible Church without having the vision declared to them and made plain? The world must know of the Church and that it is God’s government for His people. It is His will and plan for all men, both Jews and Gentiles, to get saved and join the Church that Christ might "...make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross" (Eph. 2:15, 16). Making the Church known is part of the work of lighting the world. Why, even just getting the name of the Church out before the people through visitation, tract distribution, and other means of outreach and advertising is helping "to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery" (Eph. 3:9).

As the attention of the world is drawn to the Church and they are inspired, stimulated, and motivated to "Walk about Zion, and... consider her palaces" (Psa. 48:12, 13), people of all nations will come to check things out similar to how the Queen of Sheba was drawn to Jerusalem when she heard the report in her own land "of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD." After arriving and seeing "all Solomon’s wisdom, and the house [of God] that he had built," and other such things, the Queen realized "the half was not told [her]" (1 Kings 10:1, 4, 7). "And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts" (Hag. 2:7).

Church of God, consider your responsibility to every creature, and to society as a whole. "Let [your] lower lights be burning! Send a gleam across the wave! Some poor, fainting, struggling seaman You may rescue, you may save" (Hymns of Glorious Praise, p. 407). Every state, nation, territory, and island of the sea needs your light, and they are waiting for your last days’ message. Every city, town, hamlet, and village needs your light! Your neighborhoods need your light! The people you work with or go to school with need your light! Those you meet at the store and at your favorite restaurant need your light! So also do your family, friends, and loved ones!

So shine bright! Shine very bright! Shine so bright and "Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard..." (Jer. 50:2). "After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands" (Rev. 7:9). "And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising" (Isa. 60:3).

"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood" (Acts 20:28).


By
Gary Graves

Elizabeth, IN