Life Through the Lens: The light on the hill

This post was contributed by Kevin Schrapel, and is the author’s personal opinion.

Today, November 11th, is a special day.

It’s a day when, after years of the light of freedom and democracy fighting against the darkness of tyranny and all it stands for, the light finally overcame, and peace and all it stands for was declared.

And so, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, Remembrance Day is held as a time to stop, reflect and remember the uncountable lights of courage, mateship and sacrifice over many years standing as beacons on hills.

Here in our town, we have a light on a hill: the RSL clubrooms, where men and women continue to meet and by their very presence remind us that freedom comes at a price, and that we should all be thankful and proud that the light of commitment, courage and sacrifice continues to shine.

Many hundreds of years before the first Remembrance Day, a man stepped into history: the son of God, called Jesus.

Even then, a battle was raging, a struggle in people’s hearts between trust and love in a God who first placed the ability to care into the hearts of man and woman, a God who stood for and encouraged all that is good: joy, peace, love for neighbour as much as love for self.

Against this God of goodness raged another being whose whole aim is to tear down all good and encourage anger, hatred, bigotry, and an attitude of “me first” and unbelief in the reality of a God who loves you, me and all humanity.

This Jesus said:

“You are like light for the whole world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a bowl; instead, it is placed on the lampstand, giving light to everyone in the house. In the same way, your light must shine before people so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.”

At the time, Jesus was and still is talking to those who follow him, trust him and have a desire to live in the way he would want us to.

I believe that, even today, he is giving those instructions to all humanity.

Living as a light on a hill can be hard going.

Jesus knew this.

He encourages us with these words.

“I am the light of the world,” he said.

“Whoever follows me will have the light of life and will never walk in darkness.”

This Remembrance Day, honour those who shone through sacrifice and talk to Jesus about how you might be a light for him and humanity, wherever you find yourself.

God bless.

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