Mk. 4:21-22 “He said to them, "Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don't you put it on its stand? 22 For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.” NIV
In Mark 4 Jesus has just concluded his parable identifying the struggle that every believer walks through to move from a place of receiving the living word to producing living fruit. He has identified satanic resistance, human opposition and the deceptions that distract the human heart as the obstacles to a fruitful life. Jesus concludes this parable by identifying one of the pre-eminent goals of our Christian life here on this earth; producing fruit. Jesus pinpoints the challenges that must be overcome and clearly states that the goal of each of the obstacles is to render us unfruitful. And yet many Christians miss the point all together.
The goal of our walk here on earth is not to remain sinless. It is not to be separated from the world. The goal of our walk with God here on the earth is fruitfulness! If the goal were intimacy with God we would go to heaven and have ultimate intimacy. If the goal were purity alone we would be taken into a realm of sinless perfection with God and be free to be pure, but these things are not the goal. God has allowed the believer to remain on the earth to advance His kingdom in the earth and to reveal the love and salvation of God to those who are bound in darkness. This is the point of Mark 4:21-22.
After challenging us to overcome opposition and become fruitful Christians Jesus immediately identifies God’s purpose with us. He likens the believers to a lamp and identifies God’s purpose with that lamp; to put it on display! Many people read this passage as if we are the ones who possess a lamp that we are to put on display. That is not the case at all. We are God’s lamp that He is seeking to put on display. Jesus said in Mt. 5:14 that we are “the light of the world.” We are God’s light and His desire it so put us on display so that people are drawn to that light!
After identifying the role of the light, to be put on display Jesus says something profound in regard to this light. In Mk. 4:22 Jesus says “For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.” This verse applies a unique insight into the role of the light. As Jesus continued after calling his disciples the light of the world in Mt. 5:14 he says in the rest of Matt 5:14-16: “A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Through this passage and Mark 4:22 Jesus creates the understanding that it is the good works of the believer that shine into the earth and expose what has been hidden in darkness.
John clearly states this principle in John 3:19-21 where he says to us, “this is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." We are called to live a life that exposes the works of darkness by its very contrast. As we live life to a higher standard than the world around us God speaks through us. God reveals Himself through us and the contrast both exposes evil for what it is and creates a hunger in those who are bound for the freedom that we possess. When you live the way you are intended to live, you give people hope. You allow them to see that there is a better life for them. Jesus said to His disciples in John 10:10 “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” When we live as the light of the world, exposing the deeds of darkness for what they are we enable others to believe that they too may have life and have it to the fullest! Go and be the light of the world for someone today!
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