You are the light
Like everyone else, we believers are no exemption for calamities’, trial, tribulations and even persecutions. In fact, because we choose to follow Christ we draw the unwanted. And, because of those trials and tribulations we stick out from the rest of the population. Paul says that we carry with us those unwanted attributes everyday (1Cor4:9), of tribulations, persecutions, trials, (2Cor4:8-10)etc…, and those with a purpose. Every person ever since the great fall is destined to face hardship during their life (Mt5:45), is what Jesus was referring too when he said that God causes the rain to fall on both the good and the evil. In fact, every person whether good or bad is destined to die; even (Ecc3:20). But, one thing distinguish us the believers from the rest and that is we shine when everyone else does not.
Acts 28:4-6
4 When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 6 The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
Now, the islanders when they saw Paul and the condition that he was in understood that he must have been an evil person destined for punishment. Paul’s situation seemed to be worse then of their own, he was surrounded by guards and missed a storm. It painted a picture in the islander’s mind common to them of someone worse off then they. Things that happens to believers are usually worse then that of the unbelievers. And, to top it of Paul was bitten by a venomous snake of which the writer describes as a beast, so his situation became even worse. Jesus said that we are the light of the world and this light cannot be put under a bowl, but on a stand so that everyone sees (Mt5:14-15). The islanders thought that Paul escalated from judgement with man to that of gods, painting the worst picture imaginable. But this, what was happening to Paul was for the purpose of advancing the gospel (Ph1:12-14). Insomuch, that when the islanders; after they observed him for a while, noticed that this snake bite did no harm to Paul and changed their perception of him. The snake can bite us but it cannot kill us. Now, they thought of Paul as god and opened their hearts to the gospel to the point that healing came to their community. Paul was able to heal their leaders father along with many other islanders.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters,a] that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guardb] and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.