Large cities are illuminated at night and therefore even visible from space. But in a natural disaster like an earthquake, a city or region can be without power for days. For people accustomed to the usual urban lighting at night, a dark city without electricity can be an unpleasant experience. This reminds us of the world we live in as Christians. According to the Bible, it is a dark world that desperately needs the light of God and His truth.

Christians are familiar with the analogy of light in a dark world. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told his disciples: "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16).

Jesus is the true light of the world: "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).

When we compare these two passages of the Bible, we realize that our "good works" in Matthew 5, verse 16, show us that we are to follow in Jesus' footsteps—to live our lives as he himself lived.

Jesus came into the darkness as a light, but his light was not acknowledged: "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it" (John 1:4-5).

Jesus said that we would experience the same thing as He did (John 15:20).

But we should find comfort in the fact that the time is coming when the world will recognize the light: "Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation" (1 Peter 2:11-12).

With these thoughts I wish everyone a rewarding Sabbath!