Whose light is this?

"This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine."

Sunday school students of all ages quickly and easily identify this first line in this timeless classic.

It's clear from the lyrics that the little light is ours. It's also clear that Christians should let this light shine.

Paul speaks about light in 2 Corinthians 4. The apostle reminds us God said, “Let there will be light in the darkness.” Paul adds God made this light shine in our hearts so that we could know the glory of God as seen in the face of Jesus Christ. This light shines in our hearts (v6-7a).

Here’s a question. This light we Christians of all ages continue to sing about, is it ours, or is it God’s?

I like to learn. I also like to think. This said, I want to be clear when I say that by no means I am not putting down the lyrics or the meaning of this childhood favorite which I continue to find both theological and wonderful in the same breath. I just wonder how much more the lesson can be for all of God’s children today, from the wee little ones to well-seasoned super seniors.

The question is a good one to consider. Is this light ours, or is it God’s? Since Paul writes that the light comes from God and shines in our hearts, is this light self-generated, or is this light a gift God gives us to share?

I believe Paul would answer that the light is God’s.

This may seem like a detail to some, but I wonder if you find this as significant as I do.

If it’s God’s light, and I agree with Paul here, then we don’t start this light. We don’t have ownership or even control over this light.

We certainly have an on/off switch to it individually. This may seem remedial, but it’s true that we choose whether or not we let this light shine. We also choose whether or not we let it shine when we are around others, or even on others.

However, when we start to think this light isn’t ours, that the switch I mentioned just a moment ago is something God can control, then this radiant, healing, informational, directional, glorious light that is God’s travels so much easier, so much better, and so much brighter.

A way to look at this is to let God be God. Specifically, let God’s light be God’s. When we do this, then we have no boundaries or borders. Our own broken pieces aren’t shards; they are open pieces or places where even more of God’s light can shine out from us.

For God to be God and for God’s light to be where it belongs—and that is with God—then we need to get out of the way. Our agendas, mindsets, and ways of doing (and even viewing) things is out. It is off. 

This image may help. We are not flashlights beaming one direction light. We are glowsticks. Very bright glowsticks.

How important, liberating, and joyful this glow—this shine—is, especially when we consider Jesus who calls us to love our neighbors, our enemies and those who persecute us (Matthew 5:43-46).

Regarding this light, this shine, Graham Kendrick wrote “Shine, Jesus, Shine” in 1987. Kendrick aligns with Paul. Lyrics to the second verse are an example. “Lord, I come to Your awesome presence / From the shadows into Your radiance / By the blood, I may enter Your brightness / Search me, try me, consume all my darkness / Shine on me, shine on me.”

Back to the Sunday school song. This [not so] little light of mine is God’s light shining on me and through me. This not [not so] little light is God’s light shining on you and through you, too.