A study of the life of Elisha reveals the prophet’s humility (2 Kings 2:9; 3:11), his obvious love for the people of Israel (2 Kings 8:11—12) and his faithfulness in a lifelong ministry. The question arises: amid cultural unbelief making him the subject of ridicule if not worse, what set Elisah apart? Elisha sought after God, and through him God worked powerfully.
Philippians 2:15: “that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world”
1. WHERE ARE WE TO SHINE?
A. In “the universe” (v. 15). This refers to the inhabited world in which we live, but also to the world system – all that is opposed to Christ and that excludes Him which we are forbidden to love (1 John 2:15-17). We are in the world, but we are not to be of it, as John 17:11 and 15 make clear.
B. “In a crooked and depraved generation” (Proverbs 2:13-15; Isaiah 53:6). What a dreadful spiritual and moral darkness engulfs this generation! On every hand there is an appalling ignorance of God and of spiritual things, and God’s indictment against the human race, as recorded in Romans 1:21-32, is still up to date. Gross moral darkness covers the earth and sin abounds everywhere. Genesis 6:5 is true of this generation and should be read in conjunction with Matthew 24:37. It is in this crooked and depraved generation that we are to shine for the Lord – in public (Matthew 5:14) and in private (Matthew 5:15) – socially and domestically.
2. HOW ARE WE TO SHINE?
There’s the illustration of the light in a lamp which is ineffective because the wick needs attention, or it is obscured because the glass is smoky. In v. 14 we read of two things that smoke up the glass; in vv. 15-16 are five characteristics of the life that is shining for the Lord. How should we shine?
A. By not complaining, or muttering (v. 14). See Numbers 20:2 and 21:5 and compare Acts 6:1 and 1 Corinthians 10:10. How easy it is to murmur!
B. By not arguing (v. 14). The thought here is of creating disaffection by unwise gossip.
C. By being “blameless” (v. 15) – completely trustworthy (Daniel 6:4).
D. By being pure (v. 15) – completely wholesome and sincere (John 1:47; 1 Peter 2:1). The special reference is to our motives.
E. By being “without fault” (v. 15) – living in such a way that we do not have to be corrected or chastened by the Lord because of carelessness and because of failure to judge ourselves (1 Corinthians 11:30-32).
F. By “holding out the word of life” (v. 16). This refers to our active witness in preaching the gospel and making known God’s salvation through faith in Christ. We do this by preaching, personal witness, informal meetings, social media and by many other ways. Above all, such “holding forth” must be accompanied by a consistent life as indicated in points A to E above.
G. By living in the light of “the day of Christ” (v. 16). The apostle refers to the Judgment Seat of Christ and reminds us that we are to live and labor day by day in the light of this solemn time of reward or loss (Rom. 14:12; 1 Cor. 3:13-15 and 2 Corinthians 5:9-10).
3. WHY ARE WE TO SHINE?
A. That God the Father may be glorified. Notice the last nine words in Matthew 5:16. There is only one life that will glorify Him, and that is the Christ-filled, Spirit-controlled life that shines before men and commends Him to them.
B. That the Lord Jesus may be magnified. To magnify a thing is to make it appear bigger, and Christians by their shining witness are to make the Lord Jesus appear “big” before the world. Just as lamps magnify the light, so we are to magnify Him (Philippians 1:20).
C. That we may be lost sight of. A lamp does not attract to itself; it is the light that attracts – look up John 3:30 and see how John the Baptist is described in John 5:35. There can be no shining without burning, and burning means sacrifice. It is when we are willing to let self go that Christ becomes all and in all (Matthew 16:24-25).
D. That sinners may be saved. We are to shine before men with the red light of warning (Ezekiel 33:8-9); and we are constantly to show the green light, or the “all clear”, of a consistent and brightly burning life. By doing this we shall point sinners to the Savior and will hear His “Well done!”, and we shall be rewarded “on the day of Christ” – see v. 16 and compare Matthew 25:21 and 2 Corinthians 5:10.
Conclusion: Where God has me, will I commit to shine…represent Him through my life?
