I Am The Light of The World
Finding Hope and Transformation in Jesus
Darkness can be terrifying, not just for children but for adults too. As parents, we've all heard the familiar requests: "Dad, can you turn on the lights in my room?" or "Can you leave the hall light on?" We go to great lengths to ensure we can see what's really there in the darkness.
Even as adults, we're grateful for the flashlight feature on our phones, using it to navigate through our houses at night. We've all seen those scary movies and can't shake the feeling that something sinister might be lurking in the shadows.
The Darkness of Our World
But it's not just physical darkness that scares us. Our world can seem dark and frightening even in broad daylight. We hear about violence, wars, and injustice.
The news is filled with stories of people being harmed or taken advantage of. This darkness in our world can be overwhelming and disheartening.
The Inner Darkness
There's also an inner darkness many of us experience - a sense of emptiness and purposelessness. We often try to escape this feeling by chasing after fun and happiness, running from one distraction to the next.
We buy things to keep ourselves preoccupied, hoping to avoid facing the darkness within. But no matter how hard we try, it always seems to catch up with us, leaving us feeling lonely, confused, and without purpose.
Jesus: The Light of the World
If you find yourself in this place of darkness, there's good news. Jesus made a powerful statement that can change everything:
"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12)
This declaration wasn't just a simple metaphor. It was a profound claim that His audience would have immediately recognized as a declaration of divinity. Let's explore what Jesus meant by calling Himself the light of the world.
1. Jesus Reveals God
Just as light reveals what's around us, Jesus reveals who God truly is. Throughout the Old Testament, light was often associated with God's presence and revelation. By calling Himself the light of the world, Jesus was claiming to be the ultimate revelation of God.
If we want to know who God is, we need to look at Jesus. Through His life and actions in the Gospels, we see that God is:
Loving and merciful
Full of grace
A provider for His people
A friend to sinners
Compassionate and kind
The religious leaders of Jesus' day missed this revelation because they had their own preconceptions about who God should be. We must be careful not to make the same mistake, or we might miss out on experiencing God's love, mercy, and grace.
2. Jesus Exposes Darkness
While Satan often disguises himself as "an angel of light" (2 Corinthians 11:14), Jesus exposes the true nature of darkness. He reveals:
The real source of evil and suffering in the world
The emptiness of worldly pursuits
Our need for God and salvation
Satan tries to masquerade things like money, possessions, and worldly pleasures as sources of light and life. He twists our perception, making us believe that God is to blame for the world's problems. But when Jesus, the true light, shows up, He exposes these deceptions for what they really are.
As Jesus reveals God to us, He also exposes the things that have kept us from God. This exposure can be uncomfortable, but it's necessary for us to see our need for Him.
3. Jesus Transforms
Just as light transformed the formless void in Genesis 1, Jesus has the power to transform our lives. In John 1:9, we're told that Jesus is "The true light that gives light to everyone."
When Jesus enters our lives, He brings about real transformation:
He brings form to what is formless in us
He fills what is empty within us
He gives us a new identity in Christ
This transformation is at the heart of the Christian message. We are spiritually dead, formless, and empty because of sin. But Jesus came to die on the cross, paying the penalty for our sin, so that we could be forgiven and filled with His life through the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Ongoing Battle with Darkness
For those who have already accepted Christ, there's still an ongoing battle with darkness. Satan, knowing he can't claim your eternity, will try to keep you from experiencing the fullness of life in Christ and from participating in God's kingdom work.
He may deceive us into thinking that Christianity is all about future salvation, causing us to miss out on the abundant life Jesus offers now. Satan might shine his false light on things like:
Relationships outside of God's plan
Substance abuse or addiction
The pursuit of comfort at the expense of serving others
Doubts about faith in the face of science and technology
Letting the Light Shine
To combat these deceptions, we need to continually look to Jesus as the Light of the world and ask Him to reveal His truth to us. This process involves:
Inviting God to expose any areas of darkness we are walking in and/or any areas of deception in our lives
Being willing to see and acknowledge these areas, even when it's uncomfortable
Turning these exposed areas over to Jesus for healing and to experience true life in Him.
I will admit that sometimes this can be scary. When Jesus shines His light on areas that Satan is at work and deceiving us, it can be uncomfortable.
It’s hard to see the grip that pornography can have on you.
It’s overwhelming to see that you are dangerously close to destroying your marriage because you are flirting with another man/woman.
It’s difficult to think about leaving a life of comfort.
It’s scary to believe in something that other people in the world may not get and may ridicule you or make fun of you for.
But while it’s scary to see what is really going on sometimes, it’s also through that exposure you are going to bring the true Light into the problem. And He can transform and bring life to all things.
Let's embrace Jesus as our Light today and allow Him to transform our lives, bring hope, purpose, and the abundant life that only he can provide.