You are the Light of the World

Being the Light That Reveals Christ

Almost two thousand years ago, in His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus spoke a message that many modern churches hesitate to emphasize as they proclaim the gospel. Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:14).

Jesus’ words are not merely a description of Christian identity, but a calling. To be “the light of the world” means to GoOut With the Good News, taking the truth of Christ into every place where darkness still exists.

What does it mean to be “the light”? What do we possess, as believers of Christ, that the world does not? The principal message Jesus brings as the Light—and the message He now entrusts to us—is the truth. As light dispels darkness, the truth of the Gospel exposes lies, breaks deception, and reveals the hope found only in Jesus Christ.

The truth we carry is not expressed only in words but is built into the very foundation of our lives and seen in the decisions we make daily. This is why Jesus said that a city on a hill cannot be hidden: a life rooted in the truth naturally becomes a visible proclamation of the Good News.

Yet if we examine our lives, do they truly reflect the One who said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6)? Many of us hear the Gospel in our churches, but our daily lives struggle to reveal this truth to the world around us. And if our lives do not shine, how can we go out with the Good News?

Paul in Ephesus: Light Entering Darkness

The struggle to live in truth is not new. It can be traced back to the early Church, including the community in Ephesus. The challenge for believers in Ephesus did not begin within the church but in the culture surrounding it.Ephesus—situated along major trade routes—was a melting pot of cultures and deeply rooted in polytheism. The Ephesians worshipped many gods, including Artemis, and practiced magic and dark rituals.

Into this environment, Paul came preaching the Gospel to people who were devoted to idols and lived in fear of spiritual darkness. Paul proclaimed the truth: that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who came to save humanity from the penalty of sin.The light within Paul—seen through the power of the Holy Spirit—shone so brightly that a city once filled with darkness began to crack open with light. Many Ephesians came to know Christ.

The key questions for us are: (i) Do we carry the same light that Paul carried? (ii) Do we go out with the same Good News that turned an entire city toward Christ?

The Darkness We Face Today

The darkness of our time may not look like temples and magic scrolls, but its nature remains the same. Today, darkness appears in the form of self-worship, individualism, materialism, atheism, and spiritual apathy.Yet the core truth remains: people are in darkness and need the Gospel.The world does not simply need good morals—it needs the truth of Jesus Christ proclaimed by His people.

Thus, the questions become: (i) Do we, as believers in today’s world, carry the same light and truth that Paul carried? (ii) Are we willing to go out with the Good News?

To have that light is to follow God’s command—to live a life that gives evidence of the truth. A life that mirrors God’s own righteousness and holiness becomes a living and visible proclamation of the Gospel.

Living the Gospel: Making the Message Visible

In Ephesians 4:25–32, Paul explains how truth is applied in daily life. He urges believers to remove all falsehood and speak only truth. This is not merely moral advice—it is part of our witness. One believer living in falsehood casts doubt on the power of the Gospel to transform lives.

As Paul warns, bitterness, rage, slander, malice, and unwholesome talk must be removed, replaced with kindness, compassion, words that build up, and forgiveness modeled after Christ’s forgiveness. These are not minor behaviors—they reveal whether the truth of Christ truly dwells in us.

Paul also commands believers to reject sexual immorality, impurity, and greed, which become forms of idolatry. When personal desire is placed above God, the truth of Christ is not within us. If the world were to examine our lives, would they see the virtues of Christ or the vices of this age? Do they see light or darkness?

Our transformed lives make the Gospel visible. We go out with the Good News not only through our speech but through lives that embody the truth.

The Gospel in Our Relationships

Paul extends this truth into covenantal relationships, especially marriage. Wives are called to submit as the Church submits to Christ, and husbands are called to love as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for her.

This passage has been misunderstood and misused over the years, but in its proper context, it is a picture of the Gospel. A marriage that reflects humility, sacrificial love, and unity becomes a visible testimony of Christ and the Church. It becomes another way we go out with the Good News, not by preaching a sermon but by living out Christ’s love publicly and faithfully.

A City on a Hill: A Commission to Proclaim

To be “the light of the world” is not a private identity but a public commission. Jesus is passing the baton to us to continue His mission on earth after His ascension.To be the light means to proclaim—to go out boldly with the Good News of Jesus Christ.The Gospel was never meant to be hidden or confined within church walls.

When the truth is our foundation, when our lives reflect Christ, when our relationships model His love—then we become that city on a hill, shining the Good News for all to see.

Go Out With the Good News

Jesus’ call is clear:Go out with the Good News. Shine the light. Proclaim the truth.The world is still in darkness.People still search for meaning, identity, hope, and salvation.And Christ still calls His people to step out, speak out, and live out the Gospel.

To “Go Out With the Good News” means allowing our lives, our speech, our character, and our relationships to become visible evidence that Jesus Christ is alive and transforming the world one heart at a time. It means embodying the truth we proclaim so that others may see the light and be drawn to Him.May we be the city on a hill that cannot be hidden.May we be the lamps on the stand that refuse to grow dim.And may our lives become loud proclamations of the Savior who has called us from darkness into His marvelous light.

This is our calling. This is our mission. This is our Good News to share.