No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.” (Luke 11:33-36)
Here in Luke 11, Jesus explains that your eye is the lamp of your body. The epitome of spiritual health would be having your whole body full of light, and the opposite would be a body full of darkness. And Jesus gives a stern warning - Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. This is a serious warning! If one thinks they have light in them, but it is actually darkness, how can they truly see?
The Light That Is Darkness
“A man without an eye might as well be without the sun, so far as light is concerned. The eye is as needful as the lamp, if a man is to see. The most brilliant light that ever has been invented, or ever can be discovered, will be of no use to the person who has no eye… The condition of the eye of the mind is of the utmost importance: our light or our darkness will depend upon it.” (Charles Spurgeon)
If someone is self-deceived and what they consider the light in them is actually darkness, they are completely misled in all things because the premise on which they operate is based in darkness. The thing is, the darkness has to be willfully embraced for the eye to be diseased and unhealthy. For those who truly have light within, they are abiding in Christ, seeking truth, and the truth sets them free with the word of God being a lamp unto their feet and a light to their path. For those whose light is actually darkness, the love of sin has blinded the lens of their eye, not actually allowing light in. Once again, Charles Spurgeon puts it so well:
Nine times out of ten, allowed sin is the cataract which darkens the mental eye. Men cannot see truth, because they love falsehood… When people reject the doctrines of the gospel, they also tolerate laxity of morals, and give predominance to the customs of the world. (Charles Spurgeon)
Be Full of Light
As followers of Jesus, we are to be lights. After the Beatitudes in Matthew 5, Jesus said, You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all 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 who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16).
We all come from a sinful nature and we all have darkness within us prior to receiving Jesus as salvation, but once born again in Christ, we are the light of the world. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12) and James tells us that of God’s own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. (James 1:18) The only reason we are the light of the world is because we have been made new in Christ, who is the light. And the point of being a light is to shine and allow sight in this dark world so that God will be glorified by our good works. Jesus’ statement says that we are the light of the world, so if we’re hiding the light within, it’s simply hypocrisy of which we need to repent of.
Let Your Light Shine
In a couple short weeks, at least in America, we will literally be in our family’s houses for Thanksgiving celebrations. These times are opportunities for us to shine bright and not hide our light under a basket. So often we don’t want to let our lights shine because it may stir up uncomfortable situations with unsaved people, but if we are to love others, truly love them the way Christ loves them, then we will let our lights shine and put it on a stand to give light to all in the house.
I encourage you, to self-analyze the light within and if then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, so take the opportunities that the Holy Spirit opens and let your light shine before others.