The Light Of The World

In John 8:12 Jesus says "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."
Many believe that we are fallen and that we need Christ to be truly risen and saved.  I believe that the Kingdom of God lies within us as Jesus said it does, so I feel it is the illusions of this world that overshadows the life before and after this one and that divine spark within us is what will save not just us but those close to us and even strangers by example because once that spark is nourished and activated we shine with the light of Christ.
I feel that we are divine in nature because we were created in the image and likeness of God.  This world is an illusion in a way, in that the world before and the world after is the ultimate reality.  And that we can through prayer become closer to that.  And by following in Christ's footsteps in being as forgiving, as loving, as non-judgmental, by serving others we nourish the good in us and starve the negative instincts within us.
The is a proverb that says "There are two wolves battling for control within us, the good wolf wich is love, forgiveness and acceptance and the evil wolf which is anger, hate and fear.  Which wolf wins?  The one you feed."
So if we nourish the better angels within us we will become the perfected versions of ourselves and be more Christ-like in the process.
Jesus gives us examples; but this example of humbleness and repentance is one of my favorites:
¹⁰ Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
¹¹ The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
¹² I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
¹³ And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
¹⁴ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. Luke 18:10-14
Jesus is cool with a sinner going to the Temple when he acts as this man had done.
Jesus says that this Pharisee on his high horse thinking he's some how better than others when in fact he is worse.  He has all the signs of outward righteousness which is a classic Pharisaical move, yet Jesus says that it is not the outside of the cup that must be clean but the inside and then the outside will be clean also.  Which is to say when you are truly clean on the inside outwardly you will be clean also.
Jesus also said that "As ye have done it unto the least of my bretheren, ye have also done it unto me."
Jesus takes it personal however we treat those we think don't matter, how we behave when we think no one is watching is what tests our metal and proves us good or not.
Jesus takes our treatment of everyone but specifically those we don't think matter, the prisoner, the stranger, the leper, the sick and afflicted, the poor, the homeless, the drug addicts.  Jesus takes this treatment personally because to Him we are all His family.  Which is why He loves us as we should be loved.  
The Good Samaritan is about a man who saves a man from death but not just any man, a Jew, who were hated mutually by Samaritans.  Yet this man did what was right not out of fear of punishment or out of seeking reward, he did the right thing to do because it was the right thing to do.  That is what righteousness is at it's finest.
So when we walk the walk and don't just talk the talk we let that divine spark shine with all the glory of the lighthouse at Alexandria.  A beacon to those in rough seas.  A light as illuminating and nourishing as the Sun itself.  When that light shines forth no darkness can exist.
And when we partake of the living water Christ describe to the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well, we become fully nourished spiritually and we grow infinitely.  All we were yesterday is multiplied today and grows even stronger tomorrow.
We are called to be like Christ, we are called to be that city on a hill which cannot be hid.  And when others come into contact with people like Dr.King, Gandhi or Jesus Himself, they are transformed by that love, strength, forgiveness, and acceptance of you despite your short comings.
That is what it means to truly access that divine spark and let it shine.  It means that that light becomes contagious and spreads but rather than spreading illness it spreads wellness, balance, and an unconditional love that Christ exemplifies.
That love is the light that nourishes the world. It is up to each of us to let it shine within us and inspire that love in others.