“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven.”–Matthew 5:16 Commenting on this verse, Dr. Stephen Davey writes:
How do Christians gain the world’s attention? How will our local churches catch the ears of those who so desperately need to hear the gospel? It will only happen when Christians begin to get real with their faith and start living it out before men.
People are watching you. So when you say you will do something, do it. When you fail at something, admit it. Don’t claw and scrape and climb over others like everyone else. Trust that God is at work and settle for nothing less than the holiness and purity that He requires of you. Let this so establish itself in your character that it emanates from you before a needy and watchful world. Before our gospel can ever change the world, it must first change us.
Consider this powerful epitaph ——-
When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits, I dreamed of changing the world. As I grew older I discovered the world would not change, so I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to change only my country. But it too seemed immovable. So as I grew into my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt I settled for changing only my family and those closest to me. But, alas, they would have none of it! Now, as I lie on my deathbed, I suddenly realize that if I had only been changed myself, then by example perhaps I could have changed my family. From their inspiration and encouragement, I would then have been able to better my country and… who knows? I may have even changed the world.
This is where we must begin. It must start with the person staring back at you in the mirror who is willing to make any changes necessary – not for his or her own glory, but for the glory of God. Christ reminds us in Matthew 5 that “they (unbelievers) will see your good works and glorify the Father in Heaven.” Your ultimate purpose and joy will be in seeing others come to know the Savior as you have, for it is God who changes lives and we are living testimonies of that.
Don’t ever forget that you as a Christian are a mirror that reflect God’s character to the world. If the world is ever going to see God, they must first see Him in you.
