I remember the night skies right here within the city limits of Albuquerque when I was a boy. You could see stars by the millions. There was little pollution in the air and not so many man-made lights to dim the brightness of those God-made night lights. And, of course, stars shine brightly because of the contrast with the darkness of their outer space home. That’s really the key to how bright a light is - it’s contrast with its surroundings.

          Paul wrote, "Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe" (Phil. 2:14-15). Is our generation any different from Paul’s? Would crooked and depraved pretty well describe the world today? Is it any wonder that Jesus said that we, His disciples, are the light of the world? Do our lives "shine like stars in the universe"? More personally, each of must ask, "Does my life shine like a star in the dark universe of this world"? Or, is that just a nice idea for a children’s song? "This little light of mine, I’m gonna let shine…"

          There are several specific things in this passage in Paul’s letter to the Philippians that we can do to let our light shine.

1. "Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling" (v.12). No, we don’t earn our salvation, but living the Christian life takes hard, life-long work. We have been "created in Christ Jesus to do good works" (Eph. 2:10). These are works of obedience which give life to our faith. They are good works of service to others because we are servants just as our Savior came to be a Servant. Good works are light in the darkness.
2. "Do everything without complaining or arguing" (v.14). When we think of what Jesus went through here on earth to save us, what do we have to complain about? Nothing we suffer could begin to compare with what He suffered. Arguing divides the body, the church which is Christ’s bride and God’s family. Do we have the right to divide it by our petty arguing? Complaining and arguing brings darkness. Peacemakers spread light.
3. "Hold out the word of life" (v.16). We are to hold God’s word in our heart to change our own life, we are to uphold the word of God and defend it against false teaching, but here Paul is saying we must "hold out" God’s word to others - to this dark world! No one can be saved without the saving word of God. There is no other way to know about salvation in Christ. There is no one to hold out the word to the world except us. David said, "Your word is a lamp to my feet, a light to my way." Let’s share the light by being light.

          Pollution can dim the stars in the night sky. Pollution in our lives can keep us from shining like stars in the universe. Jesus can cleanse us of all pollution if we will let Him. But then we must keep the pollution out and be His light in the world.

-- Wayne Sharp