“You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are 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 in heaven.” Jesus, Sermon On The Mount, circa 29 AD, Matthew 5:14-16
Once we have accepted the saving grace of Christ’s death on the cross, why doesn’t God simply whisk us off to heaven? What sense does it make to leave us on this sin-infested rock?
We have been left here for a purpose. We are called to influence and occupy until Christ returns. To let our light shine before men that they would see our good works and would honor and glorify our Father in heaven.
The mission field to which we’ve been called is not necessarily foreign service. It’s right where we are. It’s our Jerusalem, then our Judea, then our Samaria. And, if the Lord should call, the outermost parts of the world. Our life doesn’t belong to us. We are ambassadors for the King of kings.