The Life and the Light

 "In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men."

John 1:4

John's gospel begins with the deity of Christ; that He is the Word of God made flesh. God has always existed and all of life comes from Him. But what is more is that in Christ there is spiritual life. Until we come to Him and receive Him as our Savior, we are spiritually dead, living in darkness. Jesus is the Light that illumines our hearts and minds to the truth of who God is and how we fall so short of His perfection. When we fail to realize how imperfect (sinful) we are, then we are still encased in darkness. Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life." (John 5:24) Jesus takes us from death to life. From darkness to light. "The vast majority of mankind in every age have refused to know Him, have forgotten the fall, and their own need of a Savior. The light has been constantly shining 'in darkness.' The most have 'not comprehended the light.' But if any men and women out of the countless millions of mankind have ever had spiritual life and light, they have owed all to Christ." (J C Ryle)

Exposed by the Light

"Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 

for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things 

which are done by them in secret."

Ephesians 5:11-12

As Christians, we have a responsibility to lead the lost to our Savior. Of course we should share the good news of the gospel in words, but our words will have little effect if our behavior is no different from those to whom we are witnessing. We should live our lives in such obedience to Christ that His light of truth shines through us and convicts those who don't yet know Him of their own sinful condition. Pastor Steven Cole gives a wonderful illustration of exposing the darkness: "Living in Flagstaff, where it’s cold in the winter with lots of snow, our cars get caked with the salt and grime from the roads, so that after a few weeks of regular snowstorms, they look pretty bad. But, everyone else’s car looks as bad as mine, so I don’t think much about it. But, if I have to drive down to Phoenix, where it’s warm and sunny, I am suddenly surrounded by clean cars! Those clean cars expose the filthiness of my car and make me want to go straight to a car wash. Our clean lives expose the sin of unbelievers’ lives. As God works in their hearts, it often drives them to get their sins washed at the cross." 

Let There Be Light

"Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light." Genesis 1:3

You can't talk about God without talking about light. He brought light out of darkness in the creation of the earth. Darkness cannot co-exist with God. It is impossible. "God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all"(1 John 1:5b).  His kingdom is described as "marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9). He sheds the light of His truth to all the world. When Christ returns "He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart" (1 Corinthians 4:5b). Those who belong to the Lord are the holders of His light. Jesus said, "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16). Are you shining God's light? 

Turn on the Light

"This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;" 

1 John 1:5-6

There is no darkness in God. None whatsoever. Anyone who walks with Him — who comes out of the darkness of wanting to go their own way into the light of going His way — understands this. The light of His truth illuminates all the dark places in our being and we see  ourselves as we really are. Sinful creatures in need of a Savior. If this isn't obvious to each of us, then we need to ask ourselves if we really do have "fellowship with Him." Pride can deceive us into thinking we have all the light we need. But the truth is that kind of thinking only keep us in the dark. Who wants to stumble around in the dark when light is available?

The Eternal Light

"And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb."
Revelation 21:23

When it is dark, we cannot see things as they really are. But shine a light into the darkness and suddenly the indistinguishable becomes very clear. Jesus referred to Himself as "The Light of the World". He came to bring salvation; to erase the darkness ushered in by sin. That is exactly what He did on Calvary's cross. All those who come to Him and receive Him as Lord and Savior walk in the light of His truth. Someday there will be a new heaven and a new earth, spoken of in Revelation. And the new holy city Jerusalem will not be in need of the sun or the moon, for the Lord Himself will be the only light required. Jesus, the Light of the World and the Eternal Light.

Christmas Light

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house."

Matthew 5:14-15

Christ came to dispel the spiritual darkness of the world. Through His death, burial and resurrection He won the victory over Satan and his demons, who live to keep the world from God. During the Christmas season many people are open to the babe of Bethlehem. But there is so much more for them to grasp. Jesus came as a baby and grew up to carry out the desires of His Father. To bring all people into a saving knowledge of God.Those who have received Christ have the light of the gospel to share. If you know it, show it. Be a Christmas light.

Out of the Darkness

Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."

John 8:12

Throughout the Old Testament God's presence is represented by light. He led the Israelites through the desert to the Promised Land in a pillar of fire. The psalms speak of the "light of His face, and that He "wraps Himself in light". Darkness, on the other hand, is representative of the absence of God's presence. To live in darkness is to live apart from God, under the power of sin and Satan (Acts 26:18). No one has to live that way. Christ's invitation to follow Him is for all people, no matter who they are. Those who receive Jesus as Lord and Savior will have the "Light of Life" in their lives.

See The Light

"But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,

         That shines brighter and brighter until the full day.

The way of the wicked is like darkness;

         They do not know over what they stumble. " 

Proverbs 4:18-19

Just as the morning light grows in intensity as the day progresses, so purity in the Christian's life increases the longer he walks with the Lord. The light of Christ illumines his way and he becomes more and more aware of sin in his life. Not so the unbeliever. He walks in spiritual darkness without understanding the gravity of his situation. And so he falls farther and farther into sin, not even realizing it as such.

The Light of Dawn

"THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING IN DARKNESS SAW A GREAT LIGHT,
         AND THOSE WHO WERE SITTING IN THE LAND AND SHADOW OF DEATH,
         UPON THEM A LIGHT DAWNED." Matthew 4:16

After Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, the Lord traveled to Capernaum in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. In fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy He preached repentance and the establishment of the Kingdom of God. The light of His truth pierced the spiritual darkness of the people of Zebulun and Naphtali and brought them into the glorious light of God's love. Thus began Christ's ministry to all inhabitants of the earth. It still continues today. The truth of His word sheds light on the spiritual darkness in our world through the work of the Holy Spirit. 

A Light on My Path

"Your word is a lamp to my feet

And a light to my path" 

Psalm 119:105

It's so easy to become confused in this rapidly changing world we live in. Popular opinion drives the decisions of so many people. But what happens when views change? When what seemed wrong yesterday is now right simply because "everyone is doing it"? The path we are walking can suddenly become dark and indistinguishable.  But when we go to scripture for our answers instead of following the crowd, the verses we read shed light on our circumstances and show us the best way to go. In a world of uncertainty, we can be certain that God never changes, nor does His word.