In a world before AI, Instagram and Facebook (yes, that still exists), the most famous people were the ones who grabbed attention on the big screen or on the show stage. And even today there will be contemporaries for whom names like Brad Pitt, Taylor Swift or Roger Federer mean something. But they may not be the most influential people in our society, or the most famous (among the younger generation).
If you are over 30, the name Jimmy Donaldson may not mean much to you. But your children or grandchildren may call him “Mr. Beast ». His YouTube channel has over 245 million subscribers and his net worth is around $500 million. His talent? It makes YouTube videos fun and grabs attention online.
According to studies, wealth and fame are among the top goals of the Millennial generation. Why this intense desire for fans? We want our lives to be meaningful, to count for something. We dream that we have meaning in the world. We want to be known and have influence.
The truth is: We all have the opportunity to influence others every day. We may not have international fame or great fortune, but we already have a platform among the friends, family and colleagues we see regularly.
So the question is not whether you are affected or not. It depends on what you do with what you have. Do you have a positive influence or a negative influence?
Jesus spoke about this subject 2000 years ago. He talked about not putting the lamp under a roof. And he continued to say inside Matthew chapter 5, verses 14 to 16 among other things: “You are the light of the world!”
Why did Jesus choose the word “light” to represent this? This is because the world around us is dark and corrupt. Over the last century, humanity has greatly expanded our scientific, medical, historical, educational, psychological and technological knowledge. But we could not change our basic nature. We have not found peace or peace of mind. We have just found more ways to pollute and destroy our society.
Let’s imagine a sunny day in the middle of summer. The sky is clear blue. You have to squint to even see it. And then you light a candle. This is of course technically possible, but not particularly useful. Most people wouldn’t even notice.
Now let’s imagine that we are in the basement of a large warehouse at night. There are no windows, no security lights, nothing. It is dark black. Then you light a candle. Will this candle attract attention? Completely. In a dark place, you can’t help but turn to an unexpected light source.
The darkness needs light. You may be just one person – a small candle in the darkest of places – but your light will attract attention. We cannot hide our light. Christians should join the culture, not run away.
Our goal as Christians is not to separate ourselves from the world, but to encourage it with the light of the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus. Preferably in easy to understand language. Just like Paul did back then. He spoke to his audience in a way that was understood and without affecting the message.
You may never have the fame or fortune of the (supposedly) influencers in the spotlight – but you are definitely an influencer too. The world needs to see your light, so don’t hide it. Do not separate yourself from the darkness around you, but enter into the culture with the light of Christ. It will attract full attention in a dark place. A godly man or woman can make a huge difference, even in the darkest of circumstances.
On the subject:
Documentary about Mother Teresa: Light in the Darkness
Livenet talks about the event industry: There is light in dark times
Accompanying those affected by suicide: coming from darkness into light
2024-04-16 20:45:27
#light #difference #darkness
