THE LAMP THAT LIGHTS US

The LORD Jesus Christ, speaking to His audience, talks about lamp, light and our eyes, which is deeply insightful, and which if adhered to, will greatly help everyone, who wishes to follow it through. 
– “22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” – Matthew 6:22-23

It is common knowledge that lamps are essential for everyone. Lamps give light, and light is a matter of life and death in darkness. It is unthinkable to even imagine a life without light in our homes during nights. “In biblical times, lamps were essential for providing light in darkness, symbolizing guidance and revelation. The eye, as a metaphorical lamp, represents perception and understanding…the eye was often seen as a window to the soul, reflecting one’s inner spiritual state.” – observes Berean Study Bible Notes on the subject that Jesus is dealing with about light, lamp and our eyes.

The same words of Jesus as found in Matthew 6;22-23 are also found in Luke 11:33-36, albeit slightly elaborated, which gives us a comprehensive insight into all what the LORD Jesus was wanting to drill into His disciples, including us, this morning.
– ’33 “No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lampstand, that those who come in may see the light. 34 The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness. 35 Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness. 36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole body will be full of light, as when the bright shining of a lamp gives you light.” – Luke 11:33-36

Eyes are compared to lamp because, our eyes are the windows through which we see the world. What we see is interpreted by what is inside of us. This is what the LORD Jesus is driving at. There are two points that strike me, when reading the words of our LORD Jesus. 1- “HOW ONE SEES” 2- “WHAT ONE SEES” – these two points are totally dependent on the presence of light or darkness in us.

1- HOW ONE SEES – Do we see things POSITIVELY or NEGATIVELY? This gives a clear indication of our hearts, and the LIGHT that is in us.
2- WHAT ONE SEES – Do we see things as GOOD or BAD? This gives a clear indication of our hearts, and the LIGHT that is in us.

The Bible tells us that, the LORD Jesus is the LIGHT of the World. It also tells us that, Satan is the prince of darkness. Whoever reigns in us – in our hearts – they would be guiding us in all matters of our lives, and we would be following them. 
– “22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” – Matthew 6:22-23

If Jesus is reigning in our hearts, then light would be within is, and light would be flowing through us. Our thoughts, words and deeds would be permeated by light. This light would be visible to everyone around us, just as the darkness and dark deeds, if we are led by evil one, the Prince of darkness.
– “12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” – John 8:12
– “8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.” – Ephesians 5:8-12

We see many people, who call themselves as Christians, but have a life that is starkly different from the LORD Jesus, whom they claim to follow. If one claims to be a Christian, and their life is full of dark words and dark deeds, then it is a clear and sure indication that, he is led by dark motives, ethics and principles, making it plain and simple, that he is held captive by the darkness, and not a child of light.
– “20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” – Isaiah 5:20
– “5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” – 1 John 1:5-7

How are things with us dear brothers and sisters? What is within us? Who is leading us and guiding us? Whom are we following? Are we follow the LORD Jesus Christ, the LIGHT of the world? Or are we following the prince of this world, the personification of darkness and all evil? Let us pause and ponder this morning. Even so, the LORD help us.