01/05/2016
LIVING AS SHINING LIGHTS IN THE WORLD
Philippians 2:14-16
Christ desires as well as commands believers to live as shining lights in the world. It is for the realisation of this divine purpose that He saves and bestows spiritual experiences on believers. We are required to “Do all things without murmurings and disputing” in our secular endeavours, spiritual service and at home. Mere profession alone is not sufficient proof that a person is a real child of God. Free from murmuring, believers must be “blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom [they] shine as lights in the world”. People who murmur are not blameless. But those who are free from all sins, including murmuring are blameless in character and conduct, and possess essential attributes that make them different from the people of the world. Their lives define and demonstrate the gospel as light in a dark world. It is as believers fulfil this divine purpose and shine as lights in the world that they have present joy and hope of eternal bliss in heaven. Paul the apostle who exhorted the Philippian Christians to shine as lights in the world did not live by any other standard. He constantly examined his life and continually endeavoured to maintain a life that was free of murmuring in everything. Our Christian profession and service will be in vain here and in eternity if we do not live as shining lights in the world.
1. THE CHARGE AGAINST GRUMBLING SINNERS IN THE WILDERNESS
Philippians 2:14,15;1:27; 1 Corinthians 10:1-12; Exodus 15:1,2,22-24; 16:1-3; Numbers 14:1-4,11,12,27,28,36,37; 16:1-4,10,11,41-43,49; Psalm 106:23-25; Jude 12-16
Prior to instructing that believers should not murmur, Paul the apostle had admonished that they should ensure their “conversation be as it becometh (befits) the gospel of Christ” (Philippians 1:27). The word “conversation” generically means conduct, character and lifestyle. People who claim to have believed and accepted Christ must lead a righteous life like Him. They must live the Christ-like life that glows and beams light into the dark world. The charge to live without murmuring was borne out of the Apostle’s knowledge of the history of the children of Israel who had sublime spiritual experiences but perished in sin. Though “they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ”, “they were overthrown in the wilderness” to prove that there is no unconditional eternal security with God. This is a warning to present-day believers who claim to be saved but live licentious and unclean lifestyle. “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” If anyone thinks he is saved, the Israelites were also saved. After their exodus and crossing of the Red Sea, they rejoiced greatly and praised God for their salvation. They sang: “The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation”. Afterward, they received the Ten Commandments to make them live righteously. But shortly after their redemption song, they “murmured” for lack of water and continued to do so until they perished in the wilderness. Expectation of additional blessings of a wife, husband, child, job, etc. or reports, comments and complaints of carnal people should not make us indulge in murmuring. The sanctification experience, self-denial and discipline are antidotes to murmuring. Believers must possess these experiences to be free from this evil as it is certain that many things are bound to happen in life contrary to their desires and expectations. No believer should grumble against secular or spiritual leaders in view of the imminence of Christ’s return. We must be careful to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.
2. THE CHALLENGE TO GODLY SONS IN THE WORLD
Philippians 2:15; Ephesians 5:25-27; 1 Thessalonians 5:22-24; 2 Peter 3:11-14; Hebrews 7:25,26; Philippians 1:10,11; Matthew 5:14-16; 1 Peter 2:9
The challenge to all children of God is to live as lights in the world. To shine as light in the world, every believer must be blameless, harmless, irreproachable and without rebuke. This purpose of Christ is realisable in every believer who seeks to be a help and not a hindrance in His Church. The Lord desires that we should be blameless. This experience comes through cleansing by the blood which Christ shed on the Cross for all humanity. Thus, blamelessness is not an experience meant for few people but for all who believe the gospel. Christ’s death is also to make the church spotless and ready for the rapture. Christ died “That he might sanctify and cleanse [the church] and make it spotlessly “holy and without blemish”. The main goal and pursuit of every believer is to be holy and blameless as the signs of Christ’s coming are increasingly being fulfilled. The blameless life will also be harmless, irreproachable and without rebuke and make believers “sincere and without offence till the day of Christ” (Philippians 1:11). It is this gracious lifestyle which Christ wants believers to live so that they can shine in this dark world. As “the light of the world”, Christ’s purpose is to make ungodly people see and know about righteousness and truth from the Christ-like lifestyle of His children. We are His representatives in the world who show light through good works to dispel the darkness of evil works such as bribery, defilement, corruption, lying and stealing. We must live to “shew forth the praises of him who hath called [us] out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1 Peter 2:9).
3. THE COURAGE OF GRATEFUL SAINTS IN THEIR WITNESS
Philippians 2:16; Acts 4:12,13,31; Philippians 1:14; Mark 16:15-20; Acts 14:1-3; 19:10,18-20; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20
Believers need courage to live as lights in their dark world while “Holding forth the word of life”. The world is sinful and would want believers to compromise the righteous standard of the gospel. So, we must withstand the pressure from the world with requisite courage, commitment and consecration founded upon genuine conversion. The apostle demonstrated this courage when he responded to the Macedonian call and preached the gospel to the Philippians in spite of severe persecution. He therefore passed the baton to recipients of the gospel to gratefully and courageously bear witness of the same. So, we must reject sin and preach the gospel to sinners with courage, strength of character and boldness. Christ infused His boldness into His disciples as seen in the evangelistic activities of the Early Church that could not be hindered by opposition and persecution. Though Paul the apostle was imprisoned, his confidence and boldness also robbed off on the Philippian believers who became “much more bold to speak the word without fear”. Preaching the gospel with courage is actually the great commission from the Lord that every believer must carry out. When He gave the command to “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature”, His disciples promptly obeyed and “went forth”. Having been reached and saved with the gospel through their obedience, we must gratefully reciprocate by ‘going forth’ to win others for Christ with similar boldness and courage that made the apostles continue to preach the gospel in spite of opposition. God has given us the gospel and we will not hide it under any bushel but beam its light to brighten our world.
GHS: 61, 114 & 206