Dim Bulbs, Bright Lamps

Memory Verse: Matt 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

In our lesson today we are going to be using a metaphor. A metaphor is something used, or regarded as being used, to represent something else; emblem; symbol -- a figure of speech in which a term or phrase is applied to something to which it is not literally applicable in order to suggest a resemblance, as in “A mighty fortress is our God,” or “Jesus is the Light of the World”, or “you are to be salt and light to others”.

2 Corinthians 4:4 “Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God."

The world today, as in Jesus’ day is in darkness. Sin abounds. Evil is all around you. But you have something that those in Jesus’ day did not. You have Him. If you follow Him – His example that He left for you – you do not have to live in darkness. You can see Him and He can lead you out of darkness.

John 12:35-36 Jesus replied, “My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going. 36 Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.”

In a previous lesson we discussed what it was like to live in darkness. We even turned out the lights in our classroom and tried to find our way in the darkness. Those with us in the darkness could not lead us out of it, nor could they point the way out. They stumbled around in the dark just like we did. The blind cannot lead the blind. Only someone that can see can lead the blind through and then out of darkness. You need someone outside of yourselves – someone who can already see – someone who is light or has a light to lead you out of darkness. Once you can see the evil and sin around you – once you can see the way out and then come out of it yourselves – only then can you help others to see the way out also.

John 8:12 Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

Jesus is the way out of darkness. One of the names of that Jesus used to refer to Himself was “Light of the World”. He is the Light of the World.

What does the word ‘light” mean to you? What are the special characteristics of a light? (bright, shining, pierces the dark, shows obstacles in our path, quiet, steady, dispels fear, exposes things hidden in darkness)

Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father."

Jesus tells you also that you are to be lights to those who are still in darkness. You are to let His light shine through you to others. Have you ever been in the valley looking toward the mountains and seen a car or truck lights shine in the darkness as it goes up or comes down the mountain. You can see that light from a great distance can’t you?

Where do you get this light? Where does this light come from? Is this something you can create ourselves by being good? Is this YOUR light?

Here is a flashlight. It has a bulb and an off and on switch. Will this be enough to create light? Without a source of power – a battery, in this case, the bulb will not turn on and there will be no light. There are some flashlights now that say they never need a battery, but they still need a source of power to light the bulb and to shine. I notice that you have to shake these kinds of flashlights in order to make them shine. Could the action of shaking cause friction to generate static electricity that then is stored to be released on demand to light the bulb? You still need a power source.

Who is your power source? You? Your friends? Can you generate any power if you are still in darkness? Can anyone in darkness generate any power? If you could and your friends could, you and they would not be in the dark in the first place. You would be perfect, not fallen and sinful people like those around you. You still need an outside source. Just as the flashlight needs a battery or someone to shake it to generate static electricity, you need Jesus to light your way out of darkness.

John 1: 1-4 “ 1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created and his life brought light to everyone."

2 Corinthians 4:7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves."

The light comes from Jesus. Jesus’ life brings light to everyone. You must learn how He lived and treated others, you must accept His life in you so you too can have His light to shine to others.

John 1:5 “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it."

Jesus' light is stronger than the darkness. No matter how dark or evil or sinful the world gets, Jesus’ light shining through you, can penetrate and remove it, showing the way out of sin.

John 1:6-13 "God sent a man, John the Baptist,[c] 7 to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 8 John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. 9 The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God."

John 12:46 ”I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark."

Jesus' light is the only power source. He is the true light who gives light.

How can you let your lights shine? By the way you live, the way you treat others, by your words and most importantly, by your actions. You are to be different than the rest of society. You are to live your lives in front of others according to God’s laws and not what society says it is OK to do.

Can you become dim bulbs? How does that happen?

Sin can dim your bulbs, and may even cause your light to burn out completely. We are seeing many who call themselves by Christ’s name, compromising with His way of life. Many who call themselves by His name live their lives and treat others the same way that those who are living in darkness do. You cannot tell they are Christians by the way they live.

You have to be different than those in darkness so they can see their way to come out of that darkness. You are supposed to be lights for them. You are supposed to let Jesus’ light shine through you to them.

Your light dims every time you sin. You have to go back to the power source, confess and repent of your sins in order for your light to shine again. Sin will dim your bulbs and you will be of no use to God to shine His light to those still in darkness.

Your attitudes can dim your bulbs. If you are depressed or sad or angry or hateful, your light cannot shine. If you let the trials and tribulations of everyday life get you down, make you angry, create desires in you for revenge, or enable you to choose to sin, your light cannot shine. If you compromise with God’s laws your light cannot shine. The world will not see you as being any different than they. They will see no reason to change their lives if you are the same as they. You have to live your lives differently than they do. You have to love your neighbor as yourself. You have to reverence the things of God – Sabbath, Holy Days and treat them as special. You have to obey and live by His commands to love Him and to love others. You have to do good to those that persecute you. You have to even love your enemies.

Matthew 5:43-48 “ "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

You are to be different than the rest of the kids in the world. You have to be lights to show them there is another way, a better way to live. This will NOT be easy for you. Peer pressure will be horrible. You will hear that it is OK to have sex before marriage, that it is OK to cheat, and steal, and tell “white lies” that don’t hurt anyone”. Don’t believe the lies of Satan. Look to the source of life for answers – to Jesus and His Word. Live differently. It is not easy for anyone who truly lives God’s way of life to do it. Peer pressure is just as bad for adults as it is for kids. Adults, however, have the benefit of experience and life that you do not. It will be harder for you because you are learning who you are and who you want to be as an adult. This is a learning experience for you just as it was for us. Jesus is there for you as He is for all who are His. He will help you change your lives and attitudes so that you can be lights and not dim or burnt-out bulbs.

Ephesians 7:5-11 “7 Don’t participate in the things these people do. 8 For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! 9 For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. 10 Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. 11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them."

Our example is the strongest testament to the truth of the Bible – even more so than our words. Faith is something that has to be lived, has to be put into action. The people you know who do not know Jesus or do not understand this fact, about faith in action – even other Christians who have bought into society’s lies and are now dim bulbs or burnt out ones – can see by your actions more than your words that you can lead them out of darkness and into Jesus’ marvelous light. Allow Jesus' light to shine through you.

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