"… for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." MAT 5:45.

We must examine the qualities to which Jesus is referring when He says, "...for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good." What are the qualities of the sun? What is the first quality of the sun which comes to mind? Is it not light?

We prove and demonstrate our love of God, the Father, by reflecting the expression of His love, by loving our enemies, and by blessing those who curse us. We demonstrate our love of God by building our enemy's name and exalting them above ourselves.

The righteousness of Christ shall lighten the heavens for all eternity, i.e., His conformity to the divine will of God will lighten the heavens. That is what we are speaking about; shining forth that righteousness, that perfect submission to the will of God is His Sun. MAL 4:2 says, "But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings."

It says in MAT 5:16, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." So shall the righteousness of the saints lighten the world. It is the perfect righteousness of Christ that will lighten the heavens for all eternity, but it is the righteousness of the saints that shall enlighten the world.

See what we read in ISA 62:1-3, "For Zion's sake [for the sake of His church, for the sake of His loved ones] will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof [i.e., of His church] go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth."