Light to the world

“That you may show yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated children of God without blemish (faultless, unrebukable) in the midst of a crooked and wicked generation [spiritually perverted and perverse], among whom ye are seen as bright lights (stars or beacons shining out clearly) in the [dark] world”
Philippians 2:15 Amplified version

I have been driving through the streets of Lagos, Nigeria almost everyday for last few years, and I have noticed that there are more “born again cars” than “born again drivers”. Most cars in Lagos have some Christian stickers posted on them usually proclaiming the goodness of the Lord or declaring to the world that they belong to Christ. However in most cases there is nothing Christian about the individuals behind the wheels as most people seem to become hooligans once the go behind a wheel in Lagos and courtesy is thrown to the winds. I once asked a friend what was responsible for this and he answered “this is Lagos and if you must survive on the road then you must act like the others”.

Lagos roads are a microcosm of the world in which we live in today. There is no doubt that we live in a world where morality is seen as weak and old fashioned, integrity as not being wise and smart. In an age where people are basically selfish and altruism is viewed as foolishness by the majority.

However as victors, we are meant to be different. We live in a dark world, where we should shine as light and thereby provide illumination to the path of others. We have preached for too long but have neglected the most important message of all, which is to live by example thereby showing the world through our actions that there is a different way to live and a different path to follow. In Philippians 2:15 cited above, Paul advised the Philippians to live blameless lives though they lived in a crooked and wicked generation. That advice is very relevant in our days because the world today is in dire need of men and women of integrity with the courage to be different.

Are you shining as light? Or have you conformed to the ways of the world?

God bless you.