Use the Light

Matthew 6:22-23 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!”
 
JESUS continues his sermon with an emphasis on your eyes. He has been speaking to encourage us to committed eyes, humble prayers, forgiveness and satisfaction with possessions. His intention through this part of his Sermon on the Mount is to preach that the Father in heaven alone is your gracious Provider, worthy of all your heart, mind and soul in each aspect of your life. 
   The metaphor here of the eye as the lamp of the body points to the single oil lamp in many homes. With the lamp, one could only see what was in the home when she pointed the lamp in a particular direction. She could, for example, shine the light on a wooden idol in the home. Wooden and stone carvings to represent idols were often in homes. Or she shine the light on the Word of God written on the home’s doorposts. (See Deuteronomy 6:9). The light would either reveal Satan’s corruption, or the light would faithfully point to God’s gracious law. 
   We can have many idols in our lives – food, cars, entertainment, wealth, sports, self and more. If there is anything the keeps you from focusing first and foremost on Jesus, you must either remove it or position it properly in your life. Knowing who is Lord directs the way you order your life.
   Jesus emphasized the great divide between himself and evil in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Do you see that? Read it again. Understand how life-transforming this is. In Jesus’ light, you will never walk in darkness. Darkness comes when the Light is gone. Darkness leaves when the Light is on. 
 
Genesis 1:1-3 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.