My dear readers,

Will Your Light Rejoice or Be Put Out?

Proverbs 13:9: “The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.”

Jesus says that every born-again believer is the light of the world in Matthew 5:14-16: “¹⁴Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. ¹⁵Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” This light is his testimony for Christ in words and deeds. His words will be based upon the teachings of the Bible. The Bible also determines his behaviour and conduct in terms of places he will not go or go to. This new life in Christ is evidenced by the mind of Christ given to Him by God. The mind of Christ allows him to understand the Bible. He reads and studies the Bible with an insatiable desire to obey every jot and tittle. This Christ-centred desire is because of the love of God shed abroad into his heart by the Holy Ghost who now dwells in him. His love for his God compels him willingly and longingly to hear His voice. Every time he studies God's Word, he hears God’s voice. His heart is thrilled and warmed. This light of the righteous continues to shine. He repents sincerely and immediately when he makes a mistake because of his love for God. He cannot bear to have his God angry with him.

God the Father rejoices in this light, i.e., his holy life, which is a witness on behalf of God’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. God sent Jesus Christ to die for the sins of the world. The holy light that emanates from the believer is evidence of the successful ministry of Christ. Christ’s death is not in vain.

God the Son, Jesus Christ, will also rejoice. Christ finished His holy mission from heaven when He died on the cross, rose from the dead, and ascended to heaven. He saved sinners and left them behind on earth to be His witnesses. They speak His holy Word. They live like Him. They do His holy deeds. They suffer on His behalf when persecuted for shining the light of Christ. Christ is pleased and rejoices in the obedience of His faithful and holy disciples.

Fellow believers also rejoice when they see the light of Christ shining brightly for Christ. Their mutual life of shining for Christ is manifested and experienced by everyone when they worship, serve, witness, pray, study the Bible and have fellowship together as co-labourers together with God to build up each other’s faith in God’s glory. 1 Corinthians 3:9: “For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.”

Sinners will also rejoice when they see the light from the good works done by God’s children. These good works done in the name of Christ include their love, diligence, helpfulness, honesty, compassion, consideration and humility. Even when they are persecuted and taken advantage of, Christians do not retaliate in vengeance but will forgive and continue to do good to them. These sinners will rejoice when they confess Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour.

The believer will also rejoice within his heart. He experiences the reality of his own salvation. He experiences the presence of God in his life. Christ to him is very real as He is always by his side, holding his hand and guiding him through every vicissitude of life. He prays without ceasing, trusting in God to provide everything he needs. He has learned to overcome envy and jealousy and of his frequent comparison with his nighbours. Now, he has learned that godliness with contentment is a great gain. He has stopped measuring himself by the abundance of what he possesses.

In contrast, the “lamp” (Prov 13:9, note it is not the light) of the wicked shall be put out. The wicked is an unbeliever with no light to shine forth. His lamp refers to his life, i.e. the physical body that people see like the lamp that holds the light. God's Word accurately distinguishes the two since no light and only darkness emanates from the wicked’s life. His lamp refers to his words, deeds, and everything he does, including his dressing. His life contributes to many earthly things that pertain to this life only. All that he does have no spiritual value since the wicked (i.e. all unbelievers) are dead in sin and spiritually blind to the spiritual realm. He lives in the devil’s controlled world. The world’s systems and ideas all gravitate toward the devil’s goal of blinding the minds of all who reject the gospel of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:3-5: “³But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: ⁴In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. ⁵For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.” They are the blind leading the blind in all that they philosophise.

All their creations and inventions pertain to life on this earth. It has no impact on the life after this life. Their sins will condemn them on the day of judgment before their Creator, Jesus Christ. They may have discovered new ways to heal diseases. They have found cures for all diseases. Vaccines that prevent viruses from attacking the body are brilliant because they extend life for a while; but ultimately, death will still have the final word. A fast-paced life provided by new inventions like computers, jet planes, speed boats, supercars, etc. deceives man into thinking he can live a few lives in one lifetime; but in the end, death awaits, and all becomes vanity. The many modern comforts of life enabling man to build high-rise buildings that touch the clouds, mind-boggling engineering that span vast oceans linking one land mass to another, and mass communications with handheld devices lull him into thinking that all there is to life is life on earth. The wicked care only for what is in front of their noses because the devil has succeeded masterfully in deluding them into thinking only of a life of comfort today and ignoring a life of hell tomorrow!

All who die in their sins will be cast into hell and ultimately into the Lake of Fire forever. God will punish them for the sins committed against Him. All their attempts to wash away their sins against God, including good works, will be in vain. Man’s version of righteousness is like filthy rags in His holy sight. The wealthy can never buy their way out of hell, for all their so-called wealth is nothing but worthless dust in God’s eyes. Like a man blowing out a lit candle, so will their so-called earth-bound, secured lives be put out by God.

The contrast between the righteous’ light and the wicked’s lamp is clear. All of us have only one life to live. Live well according to the Holy Scriptures, and God has guaranteed a life of joy for all. But the warning is to the wicked whose life will end in hell; all he does is vanity of vanities.

Will your life bring joy, or will it be put out?