“The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.”‬‬

I am continually encouraged by the consistency of themes and truths between Solomon and Jesus. I shouldn’t be, but the amazing and supernatural unity of the Bible—from the first words to the last—is a powerful reinforcement of the legitimacy of God’s authorship. Solomon reminds the reader that God’s people shine brightly in their representation of Him in the world. Jesus did the same, referring to His followers, the righteous, as the light of the world. He encourages us to let our light shine so that our heavenly Father’s righteous reality would be visible to the lost and seeking in the world where we live. Part of living out the command to be in this world but not of it is that we reflect Him rather than the god of darkness. There is also a beautiful, eternal sense implied in this verse: the testimony of God’s followers continues to influence and shine light into the darkness of this world even after they are gone. The influence of the lost, for the most part, disappears. One reason is that darkness blends in and is lost in the essence of darkness, while light overcomes the darkness and cannot be extinguished by it. Today, let your light shine. #BeTheEdge

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬