LIGHT
IN A DARK WORLD
"In
the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was
without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep.
And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then
God said, 'Let there be light'; and there was light. And God saw the
light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness.
God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the
evening and the morning were the first day." (Gen. 1:1-5) So
begin the opening words of God's revelation to mankind. Therein we
are introduced to the most elementary and yet most profound influence
in the physical world - light. From the beginning of creation, God
"divided" light from darkness, thus creating that which
cannot coexist with darkness. Throughout the remaining time of this
world's existence, light would henceforth and always be known as that
which dispels darkness - whether in the physical world or in its
representation of good and evil, truth and error, or hope and
despair.
In
John's depiction of this beginning moment of time, he says, "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." (Jn.
1:1-5) However, as John used light and darkness in this setting, he
was not referring to physical light and darkness, but was using those
elements as contrasting representatives of the righteousness of God
in the flesh (see vss. 10, 11 & 14) as opposed to the sinful
condition of this world into which He came.
The
light of Jesus' physical presence in this world produced such long
shadows across the darkness of man's sinfulness that it would seem
impossible that He not be recognized. Yet, "the darkness did
not comprehend it." The words of Jesus and His righteousness
were and are in such contrast to all that is sinful, that God could
say that "...My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your
ways My ways...For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are
My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts."
(Isa. 55:8-9) They are as far apart as light from darkness.
It
is said that John the baptizer "...came for a witness, to bear
witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not
that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the
true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world."
(Jn. 1:7-9)
Isaiah
prophesied about 700 years earlier referring to the impact of Jesus'
presence in this world: "...By the way of the sea, beyond the
Jordan, in Galilee of the Gentiles. 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." (Isa. 9:1-2) We
read of the fulfillment and application of Isaiah's words in Mt.
4:12-17.
Jesus
explained why the darkness failed to "comprehend" the Light
at His coming and why so many today still refuse to acknowledge Him:
"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. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not
come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed." (Jn.
3:19-20)
Not
only did John the baptizer give testimony to Christ being the Light,
but Jesus proclaimed Himself to be so. He said, "I am the light
of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have
the light of life." (Jn. 8:12) Notice that He plainly states
that if we wish to have this "light" that it will be
conditioned upon our "following Him." John also stated it
this way: "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." (1 Jn. 1:7) Again, notice
that the condition upon which we are allowed continued fellowship
with Him is our "walking in the light." Why is this so?
Because, "...God is light and in Him is no darkness at all."
(vs. 5)
Many
claim to have fellowship with God while living outside of the
authority of His word. However, "If we say that we have
fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice
the truth." (Jn. 1:6) Once again, it is evident that light and
darkness cannot coexist. We are urged to choose light.
That
choice is an urgent one. Jesus pointed this out to His disciples as
He contemplated His eventual ascension back into Heaven. "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.'
" (Jn. 12:35) If we procrastinate in walking in the light of
His word, while we are shuffling our feet in the pathway of
indifference, we too could be overtaken by the darkness of sin.
As
His children we are privileged to hold up the true light of His word
in the midst of a dark world that is asleep under the pall of sin.
To those who have crossed the straits of sins dark night in an effort
to reach the harbor of God's mercy, His word shines forth as a beacon
of hope in the long, dark night of despair.
In
New York Harbor the Statue of Liberty stands as a symbol of freedom
and hope. It was a welcome sight to many who left behind a world
less friendly . Her lamp invited them in the sentiment of the words
on her plaque: "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled
masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming
shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp
beside the golden door!"
As
we hold high God's divine message, it stands as a sentinel of liberty
from the sin that once bound us all. In its volume it invites, "Come
to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you
rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and
lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke
is easy and My burden is light." (Mt. 11:28-30)
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Gary V. Womack - January 2005