"When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but have the light of life." (John 8:12 NIV)
Most pastors have their favorite preaching themes and John is no exception. Some friends and I are slow-crawling through his letters and at the very end of the Book, he’s still talking about light and darkness. His words have been made famous by a little band called DC Talk and it’s difficult to read them without bursting into song.
"This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in darkness we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, purifies us from all sin." (1 John 1:5-7 NIV)
I suspect light was the favorite preaching topic for Apostle John because he had experienced the flip of the proverbial switch firsthand. He had spend his first thirty or so years fumbling around in darkness and then Jesus passed by and pulled him from the shadows. For the remainder of his days, he focused his efforts on living in the light of Jesus’ presence.
What a great goal for us, as well! The world pulls us toward darkness, doesn’t it? It tugs us with ugly thoughts and actions and agendas. Sin has a powerful pull in this world and we must actively resist it. When we find the light, we are wise to walk with it, rather than slide back out into darkness.
"Have nothing to too with the fruitless deeds of darkness, rather expose them. It is shameful to even mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible – and eveyrthing that is illuminated becomes a light." (Ephesians 5:11-13 NIV)
I still recall Sunday’s early morning errand. It was hard to see in the dark, tough to identify the hazards and hinderances. But then the light came, everything was exposed.
This is why we may be tempted to shrink back from God: such exposure makes us wildly uncomfortable. We prefer to keep our sin habits hidden in the shadows. The light lays bare all the little adulteries of our heart; the secret and sinful leanings that all humans possess. The sooner we learn to withstand the discomfort of exposure, the sooner we start to deal with our recurrent betrayals. When we cooperate, we come to love the light and appreciate its purifying work in our lives. As the Lord shakes the shadows out of our soul, something magnificent happens. We become reflections of His glory. The light of Christ pours off of us.
"In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glory your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16 NIV)
Lord, thank You for bringing light into our lives. We were stumbling about in the dark before You and we would be plunged into darkness again apart from You. We admit our initial discomfort with full disclosure. It is hard to see ourselves as we really are: full of sin and scars alike. But just as a surgeon requires a lamp to remove a cancer, You require light to address the transgressions that plague our souls. Please help us stay under the light of Your examination, confident in Your compassion and skill, convinced of our depravity in the dark. Put a longing for light in our hearts. Keep us every close as long as we wear these frames. Amen.
And here’s an old school song to get your Wednesday off on the right note. 🙂 See what I did there? 🙂