Code showing on site

what theme are using?

Why are you creating a functions.php file? At the very basic a theme is required to contain its own functions.php file. You should be adding your code into the existing file, and not creating a second one.

Also , make sure your entering all of your php code within PHP tags (<?php ?>)

I’m using the twenty fourteen theme, and when I open the child theme directory via FTP there is no functions.php in it.. I’ve always read that it needed to be created…

Not in a child theme. At the most, a child theme starts with a completely blank functions.php file and only new or customised functions are ever added to it. Try reviewing child themes.

<div id="left">
	<?php if ( is_active_sidebar( 'sidebar-left' ) ) : ?>
	<div id="left-sidebar" class="left-sidebar widget-area" role="complementary">
		<?php dynamic_sidebar( 'sidebar-left' ); ?>
	</div>
	<?php endif; ?>
</div>

This is for a new file created for the sidebar called ‘sidebar-left.php’

function mychild_widgets_init() {
	register_sidebar( array(
		'name'          => __( 'Left Widget Area', 'twentyfourteen' ),
		'id'            => 'sidebar-left',
		'description'   => __( 'Left sidebar.', 'twentyfourteen' ),
		'before_widget' => '<aside id="%1$s" class="widget %2$s">',
		'after_widget'  => '</aside>',
		'before_title'  => '<h1 class="widget-title">',
		'after_title'   => '</h1>',
	) );
}
add_action( 'widgets_init', 'mychild_widgets_init' );

And that’s what I added to the ‘functions.php’ file I created. Then that text shows up on the top of the site, admin dashboard or signed out..

You forgot to add an opening <?php at the top of your functions.php file.

Bingo… Thanks esmi.. You’ve been a great help last couple months!