And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand? For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light.”(Mark 4:21-23, ESV)

In the verses above, the lamp represents the gift of the gospel which brings life to those who are dead in sin. In the same way that a light is placed in a home to benefit everyone in the room, so it is with the gospel in the world.

Jesus places an obligation upon His disciples.

Those who follow Jesus are to give away what has been given to them. Disciples should not only receive the gifts of God, they should also use those gifts to serve others. Having received the gospel, we are now to shine our light into the world.

When Jesus says that no one lights a candle and then conceals it, he is stating the obvious! A lighted candle is meant to be set on a candlestick so that, having the darkness driven away, all may see clearly.

Even the smallest of flames has a profound effect.

When compared to the sun, a candle’s flame may seem ineffective or even insignificant. In fact, the life of a candle is normally short-lived. A light wind can extinguish its flame. However, when placed in a dark room, the flame from a single candle is sufficient to drive the darkness away, bringing clarity to all in the room.

Folks, think about this. Much like a candle that burns rapidly, our lives are brief. However, when set ablaze by our Lord and Savior, our lives have a profound effect. When we not only receive but also use the gifts and talents God has given to us, it is as if we have been set on a lampstand.

So, to dispel darkness and shine the light of Christ in this fallen and needy world, the gospel must be made known!

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)

I leave you with the encouragement of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and a song that is a profound reminder of our call to be light bearers in the world.

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine,
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Everywhere I go, I'm gonna let it shine.
Everywhere I go, I'm gonna let it shine.
Everywhere I go, I'm gonna let it shine,
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Jesus gave it to me, I'm gonna let it shine.
Jesus gave it to me, I'm gonna let it shine.
Jesus gave it to me, I'm gonna let it shine,
 Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.