Good Morning!
We had a rough week last week with these messages, yet it ended on what I hope is an incredible note of grace and mercy. I find it very interesting all the contrasts that I find in this Christian walk. Let’s take a look at a few of these over the next couple days. First, let’s start with Light.
Genesis 1:3-4 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.
John 1:1-5, 9-13 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 was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it…. The trued light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 8:12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.
1 John 1-10 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life – the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us – that which we have seen and heard we proclaim to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
John 12:35-37, 43 So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him…for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.
2 Corinthians 4:4-6 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, which is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 4:16-17 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a great light has dawned.” From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
1 Peter 2:9-10 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Revelation 21:22-27 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day – and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Well, I need to stop there. Most of these came to mind; but as I started digging, I found a ton of verses regarding light. It’s a big deal and well worth understanding what Jesus is trying to teach us. But, we must be careful. One person I know absolutely loves the light verses yet worships pagan gods. True story. It’s like a gangster having a cross tattoo, I guess. However, for those of us who believe, we enjoy the true light. It’s up to us to seek it and notice how it contrasts with darkness. Jesus goes out of his way to make comparisons – vivid comparisons that expose stark differences between the two.
God intends for us to see differences. Big differences. And, the more you study these differences, the bigger the differences become. It’s almost to the point that one can apply the concept of infinity. Maybe that IS the point.
Father, show us what you mean. Teach us. Open our eyes and hearts to scripture. Let the words sink deep into our spirit and make radical changes to our lives. Amen.
Copyright © 2018 Scott Powers