“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 lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
Let your light so shine before men, that they see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”  Matthew 5:14-16

We see this verse and remember John 8:12!
“Then Jesus spoke to them again saying, ‘I am the light of the world.  He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

Since both are true, and we know that Scripture is true, how do we reconcile the two truths?  First of all we know that Jesus is the true light!  He is light.  That light is who He is.  The light originates within Him.  We, His follows reflect that light.  We are light reflectors throughout the world!

What does light do?  It shatters the darkness!  The darkest darkness is dispelled when even the tiniest spark of light appears.  All who do not know Jesus Christ dwell in darkness.  

BUT GOD!

When Paul and Barnabas were ministering in Antioch Paul preached thus,
“ For so the Lord commanded us:
‘I have set you to be a light to the Gentiles,
 That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’”  Acts 13:47

Light guides the way!  Christians are to share the Good News to the world.  No others have been given that commission.  That was Christ Jesus’ word to the disciples just before He ascended into heaven.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  Matthew 28:19-20

Light exposes the hidden things.
“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.”  John 3:18-20

As our opening Scripture tells, you do not light a lamp and then hide it under a basket!  It is meant to light the room.  We are individual lights and as a church we can and should be a welcoming beacon to all.

At this time in our history it is more difficult because of the lock down, BUT more than ever we need to be alert to every opportunity to be a shining light in this darkness.  

So we sing:
“Light of the world You stepped down into darkness,
 Opened my eyes let me see.
 Beauty that made this heart adore You,
 Hope of a life spent with You.

Chorus:  So here I am to worship, here I am to bow down,
    Here I am to say that You’re my God.
               For You’re altogether lovely, altogether worthy,
    Altogether wonderful to me.

King of all days, O so highly exalted
Glorious in heaven above,
Humbly You came to the earth You created, 
All for love’s sake, became poor.  Chorus.

Bridge:  And I’ll never know how much it cost
              To see my sin upon that cross. 3x

Light of the world You stepped down into darkness
Opened my eyes let me see!”      Amen