The Importance of Light

No one enjoys being in the dark. At least I hope not. In the Caribbean, power outages are experienced quite often. A few minutes after a power outage, most persons search for candles, lanterns, and flashlights. Some people unplug their appliances; some may scream and cower in fear by calling out to friends or relatives in close proximity, while others remain still, unable to move. Without the presence of light human eyes are unable to sense what is around them. So the question is: What do you do when the lights go out?

Light is the very essence of sight. Without light, there would be no sight. Our visual ability is the result of the complex interaction of light, our eyes and our brain. We are able to see because light from an object can move through space and reach our eyes. Once the light reaches our eyes, signals are then sent to our brain, and our brain deciphers the information to detect the appearance, location and movement of the objects we are perceiving.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”(Matthew 5:16) Our light was not given for our own use, but so that we may show others the way to Christ. Our lifestyle and practices should depict what we preach. As Christians we should be ardent followers of God, but we should also lead by example allowing others to be blessed by our daily actions and words.

he Bible emphatically describes Christians as “... the light of the world.” As the sun peeps over the mountains each day illuminating all that is below and around, and distributes its warmth to the dew laden vegetation, similarly, all Christians should allow their Christ-like attributes to evidence the presence of God within their hearts. The verse continues to liken our light to “a city that is set on a hill which cannot be hid” (Matthew 5:14). A hill is a landform that rises above the surrounding terrain. A hill stands above the rest, just high enough to be seen from afar off. So too as Christians our light should illumine those around. It should help those who have gone astray to find their way back to the source of light: the ‘Sonlight’ of Christ, who is the light of the world.

Northern Caribbean University is a tertiary institution situated high above the town of Mandeville. Come join us and enjoy the warmth and illumination of the light of knowledge and the presence of Christian values. Don’t curse the dark, let’s light your candle. 

Mikki Clarke