There are countless individuals around the world who watch in awe and complain about the decline in morality, ethics, justice, peace, spirituality, wholesomeness, kindness, etc. Often these same individuals complain about the lack of efforts to stem the tide of this apparent decline and normally look for a systemic change in society or politics. But this is not the answer to how to change the path which our world seems to be headed down. It should be noted that Jesus during His time in the flesh never tried to change the Roman Empire, which greatly overshadowed our society today when it comes to the amount of corruption and debauchery that was present. So, how did/would Jesus set out to change a lost and dying world?
You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)
These words spoken by the Savior provide the fundamental foundation by which any of us can affect true and lasting change in the world. All we simply need to do is live a good and righteous life every day. By so doing the light of our life will shine on those around us at every given moment of our lives and have a positive influence on others. It is not our individual responsibility as a Christian to change the world, it is our collective responsibility. Each of us shines our light where we are and provide a positive Christ like example and influence on those within the circle of our daily routine. As each Christian does this, we will find that our individual circles of influence will touch and even overlap in the lives of people still trapped in the darkness of sin and a worldly way of thinking. Every individual that is truly converted to Christ becomes another source of light and another in a growing chain of the circles of light throughout the world.
Many scholars of the original Greek language that the New Testament was written in comment concerning Matthew 28:19 that the proper understanding of ‘Go’ in the opening of the verse should be understood as ‘As you are going’ basically in the process of moving through your day. Thus understood, makes the implication that we are to make disciples as we are moving through the general routine of each day. In practical terms this is making a conscious effort to look for, or even create opportunities to share the light of God’s Word with those you encounter along the way. We need to foster the mindset that God has placed us on a course to intersect with these individual’s lives in order for us to be that source of light in the darkness that surrounds them. Romans 1:17 informs us that “…the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith…” As each of us reflects the righteousness of God in our lives and we live according to the faith it will have an influence on the faith of someone else. It might be that they have a little faith and we slowly add to it or that they have no faith at all and we must start by laying the one true foundation for one to build a good righteous life upon. “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3:11)
As we accomplish this noblest of missions one soul at a time the influence for positive change in the world grows even more. Eventually we can reach the point that there is no place in the world that does not have beacons of light shining and illuminating the hearts and minds of others. Remember darkness is simply the absence of light and thus where there is light there is no darkness. Be that beacon of light where you live, work, and play.
How do YOU change the world? YOU can’t! But what YOU can do is change the hearts and minds of individuals so that they too might become a source of light. Eventually, over time, YOU become WE and together when WE grows big enough…WE can change the world.
(Carl Hartman is the Minister at Main Street Church of Christ in Lockney)
