The Necessity of Visibility
"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden... Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house." — Matthew 5:14-15
Jesus makes an absolute declaration about the nature of a believer: You are the light. The function of a light is to remove darkness and illuminate a space. Christian life is therefore inherently public; it is meant to be visible, placed, and effective.
The Problem of the Shade
The lamp in the lower left, covered by an angular shade, illustrates the failure of this command. The light source exists internally (we are saved), but it is blocked from outward projection. This covering isn't usually malice; it’s often fear, false humility, or a desire to avoid confrontation with the world.
But hiding the light nullifies its entire purpose. The gospel isn't just for our own consumption; it is an external force meant to change the environment around it. A light that only benefits itself is, by definition, useless.
The Command to Radiate
The tall, central lamp radiating sharp, geometric rays of light is the command fulfilled. It is positioned high on a strong, dark stand, drawing attention. The rays—the output—are the "good deeds" others are meant to see.
The power of this parable is in its end goal: "that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." The light is not meant to draw attention to us, but to the source of the light. The radiating effect is merely the conduit for God's glory.
The Cost of Complacency
The grid structure framing this design represents the house, the world, the structure of our lives. When we place the light under the cover, we condemn the rest of the space to darkness. Our visibility is directly tied to the clarity of the Gospel message around us.
This design is a direct question of placement: Are you positioned to illuminate your house, your workplace, and your community, or are you shielding your light from the very darkness it was created to overcome?
