Eternal Light

Malachi 4:2 - But to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings; and you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves.

A thought ran quickly through my head, as often they do! Haven't I always said it's all about Jesus?

In this world we live in there is day and night. They were created. There is good and evil. Often day is linked to goodness where night is associated with evil. When we are able to see because of the light we are able to avoid evil, which must do its best (worst) work at night under cover of darkness. 

While we are in this world we will always have good and evil. Some day the Light of the world will return and all evil will be removed and those who have found, received and followed the Light will reign with Him on earth before experiencing eternal life in Christ, in the Light. 

So, we have a sun in the sky...the heavens, as it were...that brings the day. We also have the Son in the heavens who is also called the Light. It is His light which shines the truth upon us that prevents us from falling into evil. I'm convinced there was a reason for the two words, Sun and Son, sounding the same and both being in the heavens, and considered the light in/of the world.

Great words from Jesus Himself: ...“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."  ...“he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” (‭John‬ 8:12,12‬:‭35-36‬)  If you do not have Jesus you walk in darkness...

While you have the light... Reminds me of something else: Isaiah 55:6 - Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. And even better: I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth; I did not say to the seed of Jacob, ‘Seek Me in vain’; I, the LORD, speak righteousness, I declare things that are right. (‭Isaiah‬ ‭45‬:‭19‬). Jesus has not hidden Himself from us. For 2,000 years people have been proclaiming the name of the Lord. People have declared those things that are right. He reveals Himself to those who choose to seek.

As I was reading in Revelation I was reminded of a scripture at the end that so fits with this. We are told when Jesus returns He brings a new earth with no more tears, death, sorrow, pain, crying, and a there will be a pure river of life, a tree of life, and no more condemnation (curse). (There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. - Romans 8:1)  All things will be new, just like all things are new when we receive Christ as Lord and Savior. Today we have light and dark. We have lamps, fire, lanterns or flashlights, whatever it takes to bring light at night. But some day we will have no need for those things. All evil will be expunged. The Son alone will be our Light; an eternal light. We can walk in that light if we seriously seek Him.

Revelation 22:5 - There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever. 

Light and Darkness

Exodus 14:19-20 - And the Angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them. So it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. Thus it was a cloud and darkness to the one, and it gave light by night to the other, so that the one did not come near the other all that night. 

I praise God for being a light in this dark world. I am able to see the darkness around me but know that I don't need to be consumed by it. I know what God's Word says about the darkness and know that  in these days it will only get worse. While I praise Him for His light, I pray that more would see it. 

Israel was set free from captivity in Egypt and set out following God to their Promised Land. It would be a longer journey than necessary, but some would eventually arrive. He went before and behind them as their protection. As long as they had His protection they had life. Remember, Pharaoh's army was out to kill them. While Israel crossed the dry sea bed and probably marveled at how the water could stand straight up on either side of them, in one fell swoop, God was able to kill Israel's enemy. 

I loved these scriptures for this reason: In the same way God guided and protected Israel, He becomes our guide and protection, but only when we set our hearts upon Him and seek Him.  He plants Himself between our enemies and us. He can be the cloud behind us that we might not be seen, yet be the light to our feet before us to light the path He has for us. 

There are other verses that show that He surrounds those whom He calls His children, those who have received Him to themselves and are in relationship with Him.

Psalm 34:7 - The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them. 

Psalm 125:2 - As the mountains surround Jerusalem, So the LORD surrounds His people From this time forth and forever. 

Deuteronomy‬ ‭31‬:‭8 - And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.

Isaiah 43:2 - When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. 
There are many more illustrative scriptures like this. Many...all promises Of God for those who walk with Him.

Jesus is the light of the world and the world is in darkness until they know Him. They do not see the need for Him...they are in darkness. They do not follow after Him...they are in darkness. The truth of His word is offensive...they are in darkness. We all start out like that. I was a good example of stubbornness against seriously seeking Him. But He became a light in my life.

When our enemy comes chasing after us, whether it be real, emotional, mental, whatever that sly devil wishes to do to steal, kill and/or destroy us, if we know Jesus all we need to do is call on the name of the Lord and be saved. That's also what He wants us to do to come into right relationship with Him. Call on His name with a sincere heart and receive true life. For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” (‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭13‬)

John 8:12 - Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” 

Praise of Men or Praise of God?

John 12:35-43

Then Jesus said to them, "A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light."

These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them. But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: "Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?"

Therefore they could not believe because Isaiah said again: "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, lest they should see with their eyes, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them."

These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him. Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.


Jesus said He was the Light of the world. When we receive Christ we see differently. We know and understand differently. We begin to realize the lies being spread and believed in this world. We realize that God, His Word, His Son all stand for the truth. When we know the truth it frees us...removes the heaviness in our lives, our hearts, and we are spiritually healed.

Jesus was trying so very hard to win over the Pharisees, spiritual leaders of the day. But they would not give in. It was their way or the highway! They were not going to change what they had always known. They had seen Jesus perform miracles but most of them always found an excuse not to believe. Stubbornness, hard hearts, a very strong desire to cling to what they had always believed, even the praise of men. This is what satisfied them...knowing that they were "leaders" in the community and people had to listen to them.

What happens in time is God's hardening of hearts to those who refuse to believe. He gives ample time for someone to turn...even as long as one's deathbed. Even on a deathbed some will shake their fist at God. Their hearts are so hardened, eyes so blind...and that spiritual healing does not occur. I personally would not want to shake my fist at the One who created me and holds my eternal future in His hand. And still, there are some who will purposely wait till the last minute to get in all they believe the world has to offer before submitting.

For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. What can this world have to offer more than what Christ can offer? If all we do is search for that thing that satisfies and it never does, maybe it's time to look to Christ. If we try to fill our lives with the things in this world that seem fulfilling but never really do, maybe searching for Christ is the answer. Might the praise of men be more enticing? Or maybe they don't want, as the song states, "the things of the world to grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace." There's a strong pull in this world.

...[to those who are perishing] whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord... For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ... while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen [in the world] are temporary, but the things which are not seen [in Christ] are eternal. (2Corinthians 4:4-6,18)

He Bears Witness

John 8:12-18

Then Jesus spoke to them again saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." The Pharisees therefore said to Him, "You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true." Jesus answered and said to them, "Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I come from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going. You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me. It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true. I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me."


So far in the Book of John He has called Himself the living water, bread of life and now the light of life. This is the Christ. He is Life. He alone offers life in a way no other can. His life does not bring continual hunger or thirst. His life is satisfying, fulfilling all needs. The light He shines in the dark places allows us to see what is true. And when we understand truth, we have life.

Again the Pharisees struggled with His words because, despite understanding all their religious laws, they could not see, or did not want to see, that He was who had been written about, prophesied about in their books of the law. There was a connection missing. How could He claim to be God's Son? The audacity! I've had a couple look strangely at me because of my witness! Who do I think I am?

When we come to Christ we become children of God. We are co-heirs in God's inheritance. Jesus and His Father bear witness of this even if others don't understand or are offended by our beliefs.
He/They judge not by the flesh... And as children of God through Christ Jesus, we share in His suffering, persecution. Jesus told us this would happen.

What Jesus gives us is the most special thing we can receive. The living water, bread of life and light of life. They desire all to know and receive this. But we are not to be surprised by what others think or fear them because we are in the protective arms of the Almighty.

Matthew 20:21-22 - “Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved." 

John's Account of the Christ

John 1:1-5, 14-15 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.'"

John did not speak of the birth of Jesus. He grew up with Him. He proclaimed the reason why Jesus was born, His purpose. He was to share all he had learned, I think, being so close to Him. Though they were cousins, their bond probably more like brothers.

John's account gives me goosebumps. Jesus, the glory of God, seen. Jesus, the Word, the Light, the Truth, the Way, God's plan, from beginning to end of His life. John's poetic words flowed to proclaim who this Man was...and still is. Imagine the preparation of John's heart and spirit for this incredible accounting.

John knew that it was not about his delivery of the message but the Message Himself. He prepared the way for One greater. The Message come to life. When asked if he was the Messiah John emphatically said no and that he himself was not even worthy to untie the sandal straps of this Man, Jesus (even if he was His cousin). He knew the importance of Jesus.

John would proclaim Jesus had been born for one purpose...to be the Savior of the world. He was born to die so that others would live. To redeem the world.

John's message was the sovereignty of this Man. The Word of God who was God, supernaturally born of flesh. As Oswald Chambers wrote: Jesus Christ was born INTO this world, not FROM it...showing His separation from the world, yet it in. God incarnate. Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Three in one. Who can understand?

The people who first viewed the baby Jesus, an infant boy child, beheld His glory. Did they understand? Did they realize the impact this little Baby would have someday? We are to have childlike faith. When it comes to this, that's all I can have. When it comes to salvation, it's all anyone can have.

Jesus was born to show Himself to the world in the form of a baby born by humble circumstances. Mary, a virgin, humbled herself while people whispered. Joseph humbled himself in the same way. Jesus was born in a stable in a manger filled with straw. Humble shepherds were first to see Him, then followed by kings and He became our good Shepherd, not a king in the world but a Man who will be King of the world someday soon. His life was lived humbly and people, even His own, did not accept Him for who He said He was. He ultimately was rejected to the point of humiliating death. He was not some great-in-the-eyes-of-the-world person. He was what He wants us all to be and what He wants us all to do...become humble and come humbly to Him and receive Him.

This was the whole reason Jesus was sent...for us...that we may have life...in Christ...through Christ...not through anything we can do...but by humbly submitting to Him.

This Christmas dwell on true meaning. Jesus came to give the greatest gift, that of salvation. He is not Santa; He is the Truth. Put Christ in the Christmas spirit. It's really not about our gift giving. It's about our receiving the Gift that Christ is. Will you do that this year? Think about the Christ. If you want to give something special, give yourself to Christ. Enjoy the return gift of real salvation through Christ Jesus, our Lord.

Wonderful, Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. That's what He is. Again, the Light of the world who takes us out of oppression, burden and death and into real life. Let these be made real this year. Count yourself along with the people mentioned below. Obtain the hope and security from all the world believes is secure. The only hope, security and true joy is in our Lord. Receive Him this Christmas.

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined. You have multiplied the nation and increased its joy; they rejoice before You according to the joy of harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. For You have broken the yoke of his burden and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor... For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end...to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9:2-4, 6-7)

Deceived?

Romans 8:38-39 - ...for I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

The Holy Spirit. A powerful force in this world. Unseen yet still there. The third Person of the Trinity...just as much God as God the Father and God the Son. We cannot see any of these three but by faith we who are in Christ and have been filled with this same Holy Spirit upon receiving Christ know He is there...They are there.

We all know evil exists. We see it on the news daily if we watch or read about it in newspapers, magazines or online. Funny how the ruler of darkness, ruler of these principalities...AKA satan...is so evident. I suppose it has to do with his need to be noticed. Just my imagination there. His pride and arrogance got him booted out of heaven after all. It's why he's so bitter, hateful and vengeful today, determined to "get back" at God.

He is the one behind the evil powers that lurk in this world. He is fully aware his time is short and his desire is for darkness to cover the earth so people cannot see, so they stumble in this darkness, so they are blind to the approach of One who is greater than he.

Jesus WILL return, sooner than later. He's just as hard at work drawing men unto Himself. Some receive, most do not because the things in this world appear more glitzy, more tempting...more blingy...more tasteful than the things of God. This is the great deception of our enemy who IS the greatest deceiver of all time.

And it's not just physical stuff we are enamored with. The deceiver has done wonders with things like false doctrine, lust, pride-vanity-arrogance, lying, false dreams-visions-miracles, bitterness, lack of faith, which things I read about recently. I've been victim to some...like we all have. When we live with these areas in our lives we are in sin...and according to the Word of God we are dead.

Jesus came to deliver us from these deceptions. He came to remove the blinders that we might see what is true and just and give us life...THROUGH Him. And He has commanded those who follow Him to pass this same word on that others might see. Again, the deceiver does not want us to have this life. He had it, let it go to his head and was rejected in God's kingdom. God will reject those who follow in the same way.
Acts 26:18 - Jesus said: [I am Jesus...I send you...] to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.

God shared His plan of salvation. He shared His Son. He gave us His Son that we might receive Him to ourselves and obtain eternal life. The deceiver has a place already mapped out for him in the netherworld. And those who follow him will have theirs too. Jesus has gone ahead of us and prepares a place for us in Heaven. I doubt very highly the deceiver could care less where in his netherworld people reside...just that he get as many as possible there.

In Christ, thankfully, we cannot be separated from Him or the Father. We are heirs to the kingdom if we have sought the Light of the world. His light shines bright that we might see His wonders, to understand His truth, to experience His power through the gift of His Spirit which resides in us when we receive Him. His Spirit, His power, is greater than the powers of darkness...if we lay claim to that Spirit by way of Christ. Death may come to us but it's only physical and our spirit lives on forever.

In the last days it is told to us that these powers of darkness will become greater. We will wrestle
against these powers, not what we perceive to be peoples or nations. We see it happening. The work
of the enemy. Many blinded into believing his lies in all avenues of business, family, churches, government. A little leaven, so they say, leavens the whole lump. If a little leaven is in one person, imagine the amount in the world...pretty scary.
Ephesians 6:12 -  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 

But there is hope. His name is Jesus. He is our Hope, if we can see past the charade of one whose plan is to deceive us. He will return to fight the adversary...and He will win. That means all who have put their faith in Him and have received His Spirit into their lives will be winners also. We all like to win. Imagine losing this war. Won't make for anything but sore, literally, losers. Burned by the loss.
John 12:31-32 - Jesus said: Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.

Romans 8:37 - Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

The Light

Proverbs 20:12 - The hearing ear, the seeing eye, the LORD has made them both.

Rambling thoughts yesterday! I read the Proverb above and was led to study the word light...just because of the phrase the seeing eye. Hmmm.

We all know that we need our eyes to see. We also know we cannot see in the dark; we need light. Consider this:

Genesis 1:3, 26-27 - And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness"...So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

God created light and He created us, with eyes to see...only in the light. God created light to illuminate the world. When God created you and me, we were clothed in spiritual darkness. So God sent His Son Jesus, the Light of the world, that we might see, behold His glory, see His glorious light and be clothed in righteousness. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2Corinthians 4:6) ...I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. (John 8:12, John 12:46) 

Are you "seeing" this? A couple things Jesus has to say about the eye, light and the whole body:

The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! (Matthew 6:22-23)
If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole body will be full of light, as when the bright shining of a lamp gives you light.” (Luke 11:36)

When we have the Light, we are able to see through His spiritual eyes. We are able to know what truth is and we allow this truth to become part of us in the way we live. However, if we allow ourselves to remain blinded, to keep those sunglasses on or heads in the sand, as it were, not allowing the Light in, we walk in darkness. The darkness can also be viewed as the world.

And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (John 1:5, John 3:19)

The Light of Christ is shining in this dark world. Most of the world does not comprehend Him; they are considered dead. They will be condemned if they choose to live this way. Many times people remain in the dark because they do not want to know that what they do is considered sin, wrong. They try to justify their actions to sweep that sin under a rug. The condemnation may not be felt right now, but it will when standing before a holy God some day...unless forgiveness is asked for today, choosing to follow Christ and learning right from wrong. Will we be perfect? No. But we will be able to turn from what is wrong to do right.

Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” (Ephesians 5:14)

And hallelujah to those that do. A whole new world lies before us:

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. (1John 1:7)
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. (Ephesians 5:8)
...you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; (1Peter 2:9)
...giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. (Colossians 1:12). 

We can live with the knowledge and hope of this inheritance today. We can live in and walk in the Light of Christ. We pretty much have special privileges being special people because we have chosen to step out of the darkness. This is not a flighty consideration. It is serious.

Like some commercials state: But wait, there's more...  We will receive the gift of eternal life and are promised a mansion in heaven. Although we will not be sitting on clouds playing harps, we will be  with Christ, our Lord and Savior.  From Genesis 1:3 where God created light, to this from Revelation, very near the end of the the Book, to describe the heavenly light. Living in a place totally free from darkness, in His Light, with Him:

There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever. (Revelation 22:5)

I urge you to read John 9 for more information on Jesus, the Light of the world.

The World and the Light

John 1:5,9,11 - And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.

We are starting a study on the Book of John (Life Change Series) in Sunday school tomorrow. After I read the first few verses and looked at the questions for the first chapter, I went back to a comment was made in the study book. It was regarding the world. The word world comes from, in this instance, the Greek word kosmos. It means a variety of things like an apt and harmonious arrangement or constitution, order, government. The inhabitants of the earth, men, the human race. The ungodly multitude; the whole mass of men alienated from God, and therefore hostile to the cause of Christ. World affairs, the aggregate of things earthly. The whole circle of earthly goods, endowments riches, advantages, pleasures, etc., which although hollow and frail and fleeting, stir desire, seduce from God and are obstacles to the cause of Christ (Strong's Concordance).

The comment was: the world is corrupted by sin, so it is evil, dangerous, futile, temporary. Satan dominates the world; that is, the world of people who are not yet born of God and freed from darkness. The world that God created to be a lovely and ordered ornament became an ugly and strife-torn world order because men rejected God and fell under control of evil.

Believe it or not, much of what we see happening in the world today is dominated by satan. He has such a grip on society. People don't see it or they reject it. Do you really think anyone in their right mind would think they, a good person, could be dominated by satan? Isn't that reserved for murderers, rapists, thieves and the like, they may ask.

When a person is born of Christ, born of the Spirit, not man, and receives the light of Christ in their lives, they also receive truth. This light exposes ugliness and corruption and changes their view on things.

Seeing and knowing all the ugliness through the eyes of Christ helps get us through, although we don't approve of it. We know Who created it, how the world is playing it out and how it will end...for both those who have received the Light and those who have rejected Him.

When I say reject, I'm not just talking about atheists, those of non-Christian faith or those who don't attend church. I'm talking about those who believe that, because they attend church or are a certain denomination, they are believers.  There are plenty in our churches who go because they somehow think that is enough, it makes them good.

A true believer is one who has received Christ in their spirit. God has been able to penetrate the darkness of their hearts with His light. They have made a commitment to follow Him daily, think on Him daily, meditate on His Word, are obedient to what He tells us is true and just, and obedient to His call. Just knowing who He is won't cut it. Unless one truly commits the self to Jesus he has basically rejected Him, which is a very hard word, but backed up by scripture.

It takes commitment to follow Christ. It takes determination, patience, perseverance and willingness to learn, change and be transformed. There should be a difference people can see, whether others like it or not.

This world has allowed itself to believe a lot of stuff is for the good of mankind. Without the light of Christ it will continue to be a lie in their hearts and minds. I'm talking about those issues in society where it would "behoove us" to be tolerant of certain things, embracing diversity, as it were, allowing things that seem to benefit a person because society says it's so. God would disagree on some of those very issues that should be tolerated and supported (abortion, homosexuality, pornography to name a few).

Apart from all the ugliness of the world, God still is working to fulfill the statement that He wishes none to perish. He brought the Light into this world for that very reason. But for the most part the world loves the darkness and is being held captive to satan's lies. And sometimes no amount of truth being told will change their minds without a good shakeup by God Himself. Therefore, there will be two end results some day. A good one, with Christ, and the dreadful one with satan.

Let the true light of Christ into your life for a good end result. The promises for those who do are glorious. It is not about our physical bodies or lives, but our spiritual.

John 1:12-13 - But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Blind

John 9:25 - ...One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.

We are delving into chapters 8 and 9 of John next week. Jesus is more assertively telling the people, and being questioned repeatedly by the Pharisees, who He is. There is division. The Pharisees have this preconceived idea who He should be, where He should come from and it upsets them that He is indifferent to their understanding of the laws Moses taught (which especially meant no work on the Sabbath).

He came to show us: He is the light of the world. He can testify about Himself because He knows where He came from and where He will return...He and His Father are one. He comes from above. Sounding a bit like any politician having to dispute accusations, Jesus has to say He does not have a demon in Him and He only does what His Father tells Him to do. He knows His Father. He claims "I am."

You have  to understand that the statement I AM seemed blasphemous to the religious leaders because I AM is speaking of God and who is this Man who claims He is God.

Jesus heals again on the Sabbath when He recovers a blind man's sight. For this He is called a sinner. In the end He says: For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind (John 9:39).

This scripture tells us that those who hear about Him and believe and follow will have their spiritual eyes opened. They once were blind but now they see...like the blind man claimed in front of the Pharisees.

But there's more to this. Those who see, hear or are confronted with Jesus and reject Him, although they see, their spiritual eyes will be blinded to the truth if they reject Him. Isaiah 6:9-10 describes what Isaiah prophesied long before Jesus even was born. It speaks to what will happen to those who take lightly the claims of Jesus, who follow their own ways, who avoid the narrow path He demands:

And He [God] said, "Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’  Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and return and be healed." 

In other words, “Do not try to understand or see...see what I (God) will do then.” Sounds like a judgmental and harsh God. He is, as well as He is loving. He loves so much and He tries so hard to get people’s attention. However, He will never force Himself on anyone, but will in time leave them to their own devices...dulling their hearts and ears. He requires righteousness...through Jesus Christ. Reject the Son, reject the Father.

An interesting explanation of the meaning of light of the world: as long as I am in the world. Meaning, as long as He was in the world He was the light; when He departed, He left His Spirit to convict people of their sins and to empower His followers to be the light. 

The Pharisees knew the teachings on light. They understood God is light because light has the extremely delicate, subtle, pure, brilliant quality, Strong’s Bible Concordance tells us. They did not accept Jesus as God. God to them was without sin; they wrongly and foolishly accused Jesus of being a sinner because of some of the things He said and did they did not agree with.

Isaiah 60:19 - the LORD will be to you an everlasting light, and your God your glory.

Exodus 13:21 - And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night.

He had always been there for them. But not Jesus is claiming the same thing. For some reason they just could not “see” Jesus as that light. Another definition for light of the world is Messiah. Their human perception would not allow them to see Him this way. 

We are all born with spiritual blindness. There are lights shining all throughout this world who proclaim the name of Jesus. These lights will never be put out until He returns. Then there is little hope in receiving Him. Spiritual blindness cannot be irradicated except through Christ alone.

Matthew 13:19 - When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. 

The True Light of Christmas

John 1:9 - The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.

It was odd when I read this scripture. I've read it numerous times but was struck as if I'd never seen it before...the word light. And this coming just before our Christmas. John the Apostle was was writing about Jesus, the Light that was coming into the world. Jesus had already been born but John was talking about Jesus' coming into His ministry and revealing Himself. John was the voice in the wilderness alerting the people of this true Light.  

Then I was also somehow guided to Genesis 1:3 where the first thing God puts into this earth is light. Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. Wow, what a prophetic deed by God way back then, one that solidifies my thoughts about everything in the Bible being intricately orchestrated. I see this as a precursor to God sending His Son into the world 2,000 years later to be the true Light of the world, to shine upon the darkness. Oh, so many scriptures regarding light! Bear with me. Better yet, soak it all in. I hope it all makes sense.

Listen to this. Long after Genesis 1:3, John 1 tells us this: In the beginning [when God said "Let there be light"] was the Word [Jesus], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him [Jesus], and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it (John 1:1-5). A little later in this chapter John tells us And the Word [the Light] became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth (verse 14). Can anything glorious be experienced in the darkness of evil? 

The Light came into the world to be revealed by Himself (the truth). The Light also came to reveal the sin in men's hearts (darkness) and to be the Light on our path (Psalm 119:105) to guide us (into truth). The Light came by design to save all mankind. That's what makes Christmas so special. It's a reminder of all that God has done for us...from creation to the end of life as we know it, from Genesis to Revelation...taking us from death to life. How He loved us so much He sent His Son to this world. That means Jesus had to step down from His throne and into this messed up world. He had to withstand the abuse only sinful man could bring. 

We don't need to live in our own darkness, though. We can step out of it and into the Light of Christ. When we do, truth becomes our friend and darkness fades. We can clearly see the truth because of the Light. Such simplicity, so neatly arranged by God, yet so complicated by our human minds. ...the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed... (John 3:19-20). What a powerfully true statement. Ask those who have come out of the darkness into the marvelous light.

Oh, we don't all look at ourselves as evil, but without Christ we are. Without His light, without His truth, we are. Another one of God's simple truths complicated. It's a very simple solution: let the Light of Christ be revealed in your hearts. Let the light expose your sin so you may be forgiven by your acceptance of Christ. Let your heart be anguished by what the darkness holds so dear and let the light of truth penetrate your being and bring you peace.

We talk about joy and peace at Christmas. The joy and peace comes from this boy Child who when born brought the joy and peace for this world to anyone who wants it. He offers it to each one of us. He asks us to step into His light and cast aside our own personal darkness, our own torment, our own sin, for the peace and joy and light He offers. 

He came with peace and joy but He also comes with judgment. That judgment, thankfully, is overshadowed by forgiveness if we allow the light to expose our sins. We have hope and can attain the peace and joy when we let the Light enter into our lives.  

Christmas is only a breath away and we will be celebrating this Light. Oh, I could talk about all the Christmas lights on houses and on our trees, but I'm not going to go there. Those lights are pretty (sometimes pretty awful) but Jesus' light is the true Christmas Light. Jesus Himself told us in John 8:12 - "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." 

Why is it, I got to thinking, that it is in literal darkness we can sometimes be uneasy? Because we can't see; we don't know what might lurk around the corner. I'm not trying to suggest I'm frightened of the dark, but it happens to be a time when we seem to take more precautions. We turn on a light...we carry a flashlight...we build a fire. When we do we can see and a sense of safety comes upon us.  Psalm 27:1 - The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? He can be our light if we allow Him.

Look for Jesus this year in the midst of the Silent Night, Holy Nights and Joy to the Worlds. Listen carefully to the words of the songs we sing at Christmas, those we have known for so many years. Take the words to any of the Christmas songs...not about Santa, trees or reindeer, but Jesus...and plant them in your heart. Let your hearts be moved by the words. Let the love of Christ fill your hearts and let His light shine more brightly this year than any other. 

Every year our church has a Christmas Eve candelight service, like I'm sure many do. We sit in darkness with our unlit candles and later one candle is lit and little by little we are surrounded by a marvelous light. The symbolism is magnificent. It started with one Light shining in this world and it has reached out to one person at a time. I pray this year the Light is revealed in everyone's heart. 

2Corinthians 4:6 - For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 

Let Your Spirit Move

Isaiah 60:20 - Your sun shall no longer go down, nor shall your moon withdraw itself; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning shall be ended. 

Lord God, hear the pleas of Your people. We stand in the gap between good and evil. We long for Your righteousness upon this nation. There is a great divide which has formed and it is because we no longer look to You but to ourselves. Even those close to You have taken their eyes off You and sought in their own way. They preach a different Gospel and You have despised this. Let Your children pass on what is true.

If there is still time, bring peace back to our nation. You are our Prince of Peace. You are not the author of confusion. We see the confusion in this world through lies that are manifesting themselves in governments and naysayers. Lies that are beginning to sound like truths to so many.

There is only one Man we are to look to for our help. My help comes from the Lord. May Your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. Open the eyes of my heart but also open the eyes of others' hearts.

My trust is in You for You are the light that shines in the darkness. You expose evil for what it is. But Your light must be bright. Let Your children shine as bright as You. Let us all be seen and with the image of who You are all over our faces. Let our words be heard as though they were from You. Let them hear those words through Your voice.

Your wisdom and power is sorely needed in this country. Let Your children rise up to meet the challenge of a people whose faces are set against You. Let them stand out in a crowd. Let them beat down the enemy with only Your words. Let them shout of the joy found only in You, Jesus.

Let those near and far in our lives come gather around with a desire to understand the things of God. Let Your Spirit fall on them...and us...that Your words would be so clear they could not be shunned or rejected. Let them be so clear they would be embraced and held on to.

Your words are true and just and righteous and, thank You, Lord, that You will not turn away from anyone who desires to know You and live by Your statutes. Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light for my path. Let it never flicker or fade that I might follow the rest of my days.

Illuminate this earth, Father God. Show us Your glory. We so need a sign from You...if not for believers, for non-believers. We are such a visual people. But I know that You can also pierce the souls in ways we cannot imagine. That can be a sign too.

You created this world with no more than a word. You spoke it into existence and saw that it was good. Speak a new creative life into the lives of those who don't know You or who choose not to. Speak a word into their hearts that will be life changing...life creating, for that's what You do. You take a dead-in-the-world soul and bring new life to it. From the old, sinful man, like Adam, to the new man who is then in-Christ. Hallelujah.

We who know You declare the earth is Yours and everything that is in it. We know that evil can have it's way until You return but we are so thankful for Your deliverance of our souls even today, in this earthly life. We are so thankful that no matter what befalls us, You will take us to be with You in glory. We have our names written in the Book of Life and engraved in the palm of Your hand.

Let Your voice be heard once again in this nation. Let Your principles be our guide. Let the enemy be defeated by Your words. Your words are more powerful than any others...let them ring forth in the hearts of all men. Let them spread across the nations of the world and enter into the hearts of all mankind. Powerfully move in the midst of everyone. Let Your presence be felt and seen. All it takes, Lord, is a touch from You for the world to see and accept You.

We need a move of Your Spirit. Your power and determination need to come to Your people. Your truths must roll off our tongues in supernatural ways that others would receive and believe. These are our hearts' cries, Lord God.

To You be all the glory and power...forever. Let Your kingdom come. Let Your will be done. Let Your name be hallowed. Let Your power rain on us that we might feel refreshed and revitalized.

Psalm 36:9 - For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light.

The Light of the World

Exodus 13:21 - And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night.

Exodus tells us that when God finally freed Israel from Egypt He became their pillar of protection. You know what it's like to stumble around in the dark, unless you're part cat like me and am able to get around fine without the lights on!! But let's say you're not like me...you flip on lights to go downstairs, to choose your clothes early in a winter morning. I don't have to go into detail about not being able to see. 

That pillar of cloud and fire God speaks about is a type of Christ. When we follow Him not only is He our Light by night but He guides us--especially--when we are able to see for ourselves, when we don't physically have a need for a light to see. By the power of His Spirit He guides us in the daylight hours as well. The cloud and fire should be considered our protection through Jesus Christ. 

His protection leads us on His path directed by Him. He is our pillar of cloud by day as protection from our enemy and He is our pillar of fire by night to give us light. (Exodus 14:19-20) Without Him we do not have this type of spiritual protection. We, as it were, stumble through life. 

There is another scripture that shows us who the Light is: John 8:12 - Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."  And in John 12:46 Jesus says:  I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. Revelation 22:5 tells us that a day will come when Jesus comes to reign on earth that and there will be no more night and no need of lamp or sun because the "Son" of God will be the Light of the world!

  

I'm amazed at all the references to light. Jesus is the Light of the world; we are to walk in the light as He is in the light. In Him is life, and the life is the light of men.  Our eyes are the lamp to our souls and if our eyes are good, our whole bodies will be filled with light. That comes from a relationship with Jesus, not the good works we do apart from Him. We are to be light that we might illuminate others to the true light of Christ; we are to illuminate the Gospel message to those in the dark; we are to not hide our light but let it shine; light exposes our sin (and may be why some would not prefer to know the Light); we are called out of the world's darkness and into His marvelous light; Jesus is also called the bright and shining star or the morning star. He is the Light we are to seek.

We are asked to seek Jesus while He may still be found. He's as bright as the noonday sun. It's hard to not notice Him. There is such a brightness that comes out of life when we choose to follow Christ. Even in the midst of dark days, there's a Light that shines, if we choose to allow it, in our spirits and hearts. I just cannot imagine what this life ahead of us holds, but I'm thankful that my Light will never fade. Choose Light, not darkness.

Ephesians 5:14 - Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light."

God is Light

Matthew 18:3-6 - "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea."

I've mentioned in the past about truth. I've mentioned about the knowledge God gives us when we receive Him into our lives. I've mentioned about shining. I was reading an article by an evangelist named Jesse Duplantis. I don't follow him much, but for whatever reason this article prompted me to take notice. It confirmed things I had written about.

The article was about hearing God. He lightens our understanding when we allow Him. I've written, as he did, that God most definitely speaks to us through His Word, the Bible. Sometimes something you've read over and over suddenly hits you like you've never read it before. That's revelation...Divine revelation because it comes from the very heart and words of God. The lightbulb goes on in our heads because He is the light.

Jesse wrote that when he was reading about creation in Genesis, something just hit him. He was not a new believer but something just stood out like never before. He tells us God is light and when it came to creation He "released Himself first because He is the Creator." "Let there be light...."

His Holy Spirit, he went on to say, fluttered over the the deep and when God spoke, things happened. He then said it dawned on him that's exactly what happens to us when we are born spiritually in Christ. That same Holy Spirit is hovering over us until God says "let there be light" and He sends His Spirit down to infiltrate us and reveal Himself to us...the same Holy Spirit that helped in creating the world and bringing light to it does the same work in us.

As Jesse wrote: "...before a person gets saved, their life is void. The Holy Spirit is on the outside of them, fluttering over them, waiting for the command to enter and re-create 'a new creature' in Christ Jesus...the Holy Spirit brings light into the life of a new believer." Man is searching for God in the natural, confesses Him through faith without even seeing Him and spiritually the Holy Spirit comes in to cleanse us of our sin.

It was then in the article that Jesse said something I had just been thinking earlier in the day! "The Holy Spirit flows from his head to his feet, re-creating the man with His very presence. He is filled with light on the inside..."

I remember eleven years ago when I gave my life to Christ. I knew nothing about the Holy Spirit. I just know that as the pastor spoke, something was going on inside me and at the right moment, at the very moment I called out in my heart that I needed Jesus, I felt this surge of power that literally came in from the tips of my upraised hand and coursed through my whole body. Let me say this again...I didn't know anything about this Holy Spirit other than who He is named, and yet I felt His presence at the very moment I gave my life to the Lord! If this has not happened to you, you may not fully understand.  It's incredible.

We need light to see, right? And in order to realize who God is, that light needs to be on in our lives. What I want to point out here is where we all fit into this marvelous picture. It can happen to each one of us. Not always in the same way. It all starts with faith that if you truly want to know the truth of who God is, you must first receive Him. You can learn about Him in church but to really know Him you must receive Him spiritually. You must call out to Him. When He turns on that light you can read His Word and understand who He truly is. Then He will talk to you, but that relationship must first be in place. Clergy can tell us about Him but it is our commitment to that personal relationship with Him and hearing Him speak through His Word can reveal (light) the true nature of Himself to you.

The Word tells us that we are to come as little children. They don't question. They trust implicitly. They have not learned a whole myriad of comlicated excuses why something shouldn't be done. It's the same with us...our minds are cluttered by the world about why it isn't necessary to know God intimately. Let's be like little children and let the Light of the world illuminate us.

John 7:37-39 - "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive...