Luke 8:16-18

[16] “No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. [17] For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light. [18] Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.”

In Luke’s gospel, this passage is preceded by the parable of the soils. Where Jesus illustrates the differences between false faith and genuine faith. Genuine faith is described in Luke 8:15, “As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.”

In the same way that genuine faith patiently perseveres, it’s also displayed for a lifetime.

You don’t light a lamp and then cover it up. If so, the lamp is without impact or effect, like the soils Jesus mentioned in Luke 8:11-14. The fruit of genuine faith is a transformed life that patiently follows and obeys the Word until the end. 

Does this mean without sin? No, but it does mean with repentance in keeping with the Spirit. 

John the Baptist preached in Matthew 3:8-10, “Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

Salvation is not about your genealogy, your race, your country, or earned by your actions. Salvation is by faith and evidenced by the fruit of repentance in the moment of your transformation and through the rest of your life.

It’s not just that the transforming work of Christ shouldn’t be hidden, it’s actually that it can’t be hidden. And those who seek to hide their faith are acting like the three soils Jesus describes in Luke 8:11-14. 

When I was a kid, we learned and sang “This little light of mine.”

This little light of mine

I’m going to let it shine

Oh, this little light of mine

I’m going to let it shine 

Hide it under a bushel? No!

I’m going to let it shine

Hide it under a bushel? No!

I’m going to let it shine

Let it shine, all the time, let it shine.

Let the light of Christ shine today!