I did a children’s message years ago that involved a marker that only shows up when you shine a black light on it. Before the worship service I used thr marker to draw a cross on my forehead. When the children came forward, I asked them if they could see the cross on my forehead. They were a little puzzled, because it was not visible to the naked eye. I assured them that the cross was there, even if they could not see it. Finally, I told them I would help them see the cross. I took out the small black light and shined it on my forehead. The cross showed up with a purple glow. Of course, the children were duly impressed.

I then shared with them that many people can’t see Jesus, even though He is real. I asked them what we could do to help those people see Jesus. One little guy had watched me shine that light on my forehead, and he said, “We need to shine the light for them.” What a perfect answer. In fact, Jesus spoke in those terms when He said, “…let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

Because the children were responding so well, I decided to keep going with the analogy. I asked, “What can we do to shine the light of Jesus for people to see?” Almost immediately another little guy said, “Just take a light and shine it right in their eyes!”

After the laughter died down, I realized that what at first hearing sounded funny was actually a very good answer. If we want to show Jesus to those who don’t believe, we need to be living lives as followers of Jesus where they can see us. If Christians only hang out with other Christians, how will those who don’t know Jesus ever come to know Him? You cannot shine the light of Jesus for the world if the world never sees you.

Peter said it this way:

1 Peter 2:12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

The word “pagans” is referring to those who are not Christians, not followers of Jesus. Peter says we should be out among them, letting our light shine.

The point is simple: If we truly believe that the only way to have forgiveness and eternal life is to trust that the death of Jesus paid for all sin and His resurrection guarantees us victory over death, dare we keep that to ourselves? We need to be out there shining that message into the eyes of those who still don’t know.

What can you do to shine the light in their eyes?