Rev. A.J. Ogden

After we are born again, saved by the blood of Jesus Christ, washed from our sins, Jesus tells us that we are the light of the world. Matthew 5:14, “Ye are the light of the world, a city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick: and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Mother gave me the job of cleaning the old kerosene lamp chimneys. She said, “Son, when they are all smoked up with smut and soot, they do not throw any light. You keep them clean for me so we can have great illumination in the room.” The lives of far too many Christians are like old smutty lamp chimneys. They, living in known and unconfessed sin, are more like a flickering torch than a shining light. Our lives must be clean and Christ-like to give the gospel light effectively.

When we name the name of Christ ,people begin right then to watch us. They are anxious to see if your talk matches your walk, and if it doesn’t, they get very little illumination from you. They probably won’t even think you are real.

If we are to reflect Christ to a lost world, we must be like Christ and live a dedicated, consecrated, all out life for Christ who died for us. Careless Christian living can cause many souls to go to Hell. I must ask myself daily, “Am I a shining light or a flickering torch?”

Let your light shine, keep your chimney clean, be a strong witness. One soul is more valuable than all your money, stocks, bonds, name, fame, power, or anything else we might name.