The Light of Life

Bible Text: “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).

God created light on the first day of His Creation, and God said that the light was good (Genesis 1:3-5). Light is vital for humans, animals, and plants, but many do not thank God for the light! What about you and me? Without light, we would be in darkness, and cannot live, see, read, watch, walk, work, or do anything. Natural light is so vital! How much more, then, is spiritual light crucial for our spiritual life? Satan may disguise himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14), working through false prophets, false religions, false teachings and lying miracles, deceiving many into believing that their faiths, beliefs, and religions are true and right, whereas they remain in spiritual darkness unawares! It is so dangerous!

 True spiritual Light comes from God the Creator, His Son Jesus Christ, and His Word, the Bible alone. (John 8:12; 1 John 1:5).  Without the Lord Jesus Christ, the Light of Life, you and I remain in spiritual darkness. We can neither see nor understand the truth, have no spiritual discernment, and are incapable of walking in the right way that leads to eternal life.  Do you want to have the Light of life?

TRUE SPIRITUAL LIGHT

True spiritual Light can be found from the Triune God and His Word alone, and not from humans.

1. God is Light, and His holy Presence is Light

God’s Word confirms that “God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5), and that God is “the Father of lights” (James 1:17). Only God the Creator is Light. God is still the same yesterday, today and forever without any shadow of turning, therefore our faith in Him will be as firm as He is. To have true spiritual Light, you and I must come to the living and true God. Trusting in God and walking in the Light of His presence, we shall be blessed (Psalm 89:15).

2. The Lord Jesus Christ is the true Light

John the Baptist testified that the Lord Jesus Christ is “the true Light” (John 1:9). The Lord Jesus Himself also confirms that “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).  Only by following the Lord Jesus Himself, will you and I not walk in darkness, but have the Light of life. Many choose to follow human philosophers, religious leaders, evolutionists, or great thinkers, but not the Lord Jesus Christ Himself! They are still wandering in spiritual darkness! What about you and me?

3. God’s Word/Truth is Light

The Psalmists experienced the blessed guidance of God’s Word and prayed to Him, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105; cf. Proverbs 6:23) and “O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles” (Psalm 43:3). Only God’s light and truth can lead us to God’s holy presence, whereas the false light of human religions, philosophies, evolutionary theories and so on are misleading many away from the living and true God! Not coming to God and the Lord Jesus Himself through His Truth, the Holy Bible, many are still in spiritual darkness! What about you and me?

4. God’s Love is Light

God’s Word confirms that “God is love” (1 John 4:8), and those who love their brethren abide in the light (1 John 2:9-10). God’s love is holy, and “rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:6). Thus, those who hate others or promote human love (in compromise) without God’s holy love and truth are still in spiritual darkness. What about you and me?

BLESSINGS FROM GOD AND HIS WORD, THE DIVINE LIGHT

Although the Lord Jesus came and taught His Truth, and His servants went out to preach the true Gospel, many did not see and believe because “the god of this world hath blinded” their minds (2 Corinthians 4:4). Indeed, you and I must thank the Triune God for opening our eyes, hearts, and minds, allowing His Light to shine into our hearts (2 Corinthians 4:6) so that we may have the following blessings.

1. To know God and the Lord Jesus Christ

Physical darkness and blindness can cause us not to see or recognise our friends and family. But spiritual darkness and blindness is worse: it causes many not to see God as their Creator and the Lord Jesus as their Saviour. The apostle Paul (formerly Saul) used to be spiritually blind.  He did not know and believe that the Lord Jesus was the Christ and Saviour. He blasphemed the Lord’s Name and persecuted Christians. However, after the Lord Jesus appeared and revealed Himself to him, he could see and know Jesus as his Lord, Christ, and Saviour. Thereafter, he regarded all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and His gift of righteousness (Philippians 3:8-9). You and I must be saved and born again to have eternal life. Only then can we see and know God experientially as our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus as our Saviour, Redeemer, and All we need (John 17:3; Col 3:11).

2. To understand God’s Truth and Will

In darkness and blindness, we cannot see, read or understand the instructions and teachings from a book. In spiritual darkness and blindness, many cannot see or understand God’s Truth and will from His Word, the Holy Bible. That is why many believe and follow unbiblical doctrines, human traditions, false religions, superstitions and heresies unawares. You and I must thank God for the illumination, teaching and guidance of the Holy Spirit to understand God’s Truth and will (John 16:13; Eph 1:9; 5:17).

3. To enjoy spiritual blessings

We cannot enjoy our lives in darkness and blindness. In spiritual darkness and blindness, many cannot enjoy God’s spiritual blessings such as being chosen, loved, adopted, forgiven, redeemed, saved, and sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:3-14). What about you and me?

4. To be guided in the Light of God and His Word

In darkness and blindness, we cannot see the way, the road signs, manholes, or snares; how then can we walk safely to our destination? In spiritual darkness and blindness, many do not know that they are walking in the broad way that leads to destruction. We must thank God for guiding us in the light of His presence and Word (Psalm 43:3; Isaiah 50:10).

5. To walk in God’s presence and have fellowship with Him

In darkness and blindness, we cannot walk together and have a blessed fellowship because the blind lead the blind, and both will fall into the ditch (Matthew 15:14). In spiritual darkness and blindness, many unknowingly are following blind leaders who will lead them to destruction. We must thank God that by His grace, we can walk in His Light and have a blessed fellowship with Him and His children (1 John 1:7). What about you?

6. To see our sins and shortcomings

In darkness and blindness, we cannot see any dirt on our face and stains on our clothing. In spiritual darkness and blindness, many cannot see their sins and shortcomings. Consequently, they do not repent and seek forgiveness from the Lord Jesus, that they may be cleansed and saved. Job did not see his shortcomings nor repent in dust and ashes until he was in the Light of God’s holy Presence (Job 42:5-6). What about you and me?

7. To distinguish Truth from falsehood and error

In darkness and blindness, we cannot see the true value of a rough diamond: one may discard it away, thinking that it is a stone. Neither can we see and distinguish a true bank note from a fake one. In spiritual darkness and blindness, many cannot see the true value of God’s Word and the Lord Jesus with His salvation for them, and so they reject Him and His Word. Many others may confess that they believe in the Lord Jesus but follow false leaders, doctrines and heresies unawares. You and I really need the Lord, His Word and the illumination of the Holy Spirit to help us distinguish God’s Truth from falsehood and error (1 John 4:1-4).

WALK IN GOD’S LIGHT AND REFLECT HIS LIGHT

To enjoy God’s Light and reflect His Light to others in spiritual darkness, we must walk in the Light of God’s holy presence and Word. What does it mean?

1. Walk in the Light of God’s holy Presence

God commanded Abraham to walk before Him, and so must we (Gen 17:1; 1 John 1:7; 2:6). Without the Light of God’s presence, our lives, our worship, and service have no Light. We must treasure God’s holy presence wholeheartedly, that we are willing to separate ourselves unto Him and to walk before Him in His holy presence at home, at work, at church and at play.

2. Walk in the Light of God’s Word and Truth

If we truly live, worship and serve the Lord according to His Word and Truth, we are living in His Light (Psalm 43:3; 119:105; 2 John 4). Many professing Christians continue to lie, live in sins and hypocrisy, follow wrong teachings, and do not worship God in spirit and in truth! They are still walking in spiritual darkness. What about you and me?

3. Walk in the Light of God’s Love

God is Light and Love (1 John 1:5; 4:8). Those who live with hatred, envy, unforgiveness, vengeance, and wickedness are still walking in darkness. To walk in the Light, you and I must walk in God’s holy love (1 John 2:9-10; 4:8). What about you and me?

4. Reflect the Lord Jesus’ Light to others in this world of darkness

The Lord Jesus wants His followers to reflect His Light in the world of sin, lies, hatred and falsehood. Then, what should you and I do to reflect His holy and loving Light to others?

(1) Receive Jesus Christ as our Light and Salvation personally

The first step is to receive Jesus Christ as our Light and Salvation personally as King David did when he said, “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” (Psalm 27:1). It means that we must acknowledge our great need of the Lord Jesus and His presence because without Him we are in spiritual darkness! Just as we must open the windows of our rooms to let the light shine in and chase away all darkness, you and I must truly open our hearts and invite the Lord Jesus in (Rev 3:20), to chase away the darkness of sin, self-will, self-righteousness, falsehood, hatred, ungodliness and worldliness. If the Lord is not My Light, I can never reflect His Light to others in spiritual darkness. What about you?

(2) Believe in Jesus Christ alone

The Lord Jesus says, “...whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness” (John 12:46). You and I must wholeheartedly trust in the Lord Jesus and His Word in order to walk in His Light (true faith is with obedience – Hebrews 11:8). Those who doubt the Lord and His Word are still in darkness and can never reflect God’s Light to others in darkness. What about you and me?

(3) Follow Jesus Christ alone

The Lord Jesus says, “...he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12). Many are following humans and their teachings, but not the Lord Jesus Himself and His Word! They remain in spiritual darkness. You and I must follow the Lord Jesus alone, who is our Light, so that we can reflect His Light to others in darkness. What about you and me?

(4) Submit to Jesus Christ alone

When the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to Saul, His great light blinded Saul and made him fall to the ground. Saul was trembling and astonished, saying to the Lord in full submission, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6). Subsequently, Saul (later the Apostle Paul) received his sight, was baptised, and served the Lord faithfully until death. The Lord used Paul to reflect His Light to many who are in darkness. If you and I have not submitted ourselves to the Lord, we can never reflect His Light to those who are in darkness!

(5) Look unto Jesus Christ without anything in between

If a mirror is not facing the sun or there is something and someone in between them, it cannot reflect the light of the sun. You and I are like a mirror, and there should not be anything or anyone covering/blocking us from the Lord. We must look unto “Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb 12:2). If sin remains in us, or something or someone is blocking us from the holy presence of the Lord, we can never reflect His Light to those in darkness. What about you and me?

(6) Keep ourselves pure like a clean mirror reflecting the Lord’s Light

A mirror can only function if it is clean. You and I must keep ourselves clean and pure like a mirror, “beholding as in a glass (mirror) the glory of the Lord” (2 Cor 3:18; 6:14,17); otherwise, we can never reflect the Lord’s Light to others who are in darkness. What about you and me?

(7) Keep shining for God’s glory

The Lord Jesus wants His followers to keep on reflecting His Light to others so that they may glorify God the Father in heaven (Matt 5:14-16). You and I must keep reflecting and shining forth the Lord’s Light in our lives, our worship and service. When others can see the Lord’s Light of love, holiness and truth in us, they may glorify our Father in heaven. What about you and me?

Many are walking in spiritual darkness of sins, hatred, unholiness, ungodliness, hypocrisy, false beliefs, and false religions unawares! The Lord Jesus alone is our Light of Life. Having Him, we have Light. Without Him, we have no Light and remain in spiritual darkness. May God help us to believe, receive, follow and submit to the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word alone. May the Lord graciously sanctify us and use us as a clean mirror reflecting His Light of love, truth, holiness, and salvation to many others in darkness. Amen. HN.