The Light of the World – Part One

In the absence of light, nothing is seen.

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John 8:12 – 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.

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I know that there are those who would disagree with my premise statement in today’s writing.  They would cite the fact that animals can see in the dark better than humans, or possibly the use of light enhancing equipment used by the military and police.  The truth is that my premise statement is absolutely true. The phrase, “absence of light,” is an absolute statement.  It needs no magnifying adjectives.  The “absence of light” means precisely what it says; the “absence of light.”  That means NO LIGHT is present ATALL.  And the total absence of light, sight is impossible, even by light capturing or enhancing technical equipment.  There may be degrees of darkness, just as there are degrees of light.  But NO LIGHT is NO LIGHT.

In the words of Jesus in the Text for Today, Jesus is not referring to natural light of any kind; created, reflected, or technologically manufactured.  He is referring to spiritual light, and in that case, the words of Jesus are the end of the discussion.  It would do one well for the sake of Biblical accuracy to read the words of our Lord from John 9:5.  There Jesus said He would be the “light of the world” as “long as (He) I (was) am in the world.”  That statement should speak volumes to the heart of the believer as it relates to the Christian being a “new creation” in Christ Jesus.  You see, as long as Jesus was physically in the earth, no one could be born again.  To be born again, one must “confess with his mouth” that Jesus Christ is Lord, and “believe in his heart (kardis)” that God has raised Him from the dead.  Also, the presence of the life renewing Holy Spirit must be present to carry out that work.  Both those prerequisites were accomplished ONLY AFTER the ascension of the Lord Jesus to the right hand of the Father and the Holy Spirit was sent on the day of Pentecost.  After that point, when the church as the body of born again believers in the earth came into existence, the church became the light of the world, that the church was fueled by the light creating Word in their hearts, the power of Holy Spirit as the “oil” of that light, and the open fellowship with Father that was created through God’s redemptive plan through Christ.

To this point, allow me to add the admonishment of Jesus that we should work while we have light.  Jesus is, I believe, coming soon.  When He does, He will remove His church from this earth.  At that moment in time, and until those left behind call on the name of the Lord, surrendering their lives to Jesus, the earth will be for a short time, in total spiritual darkness.  Child of God, you are utmost importance in the earth at this moment, so let your light so shine . . . 

Manna for Today – John 8:12-30; Matthew 5:14; John 9:5; 1 John 1:7; Matthew 5:16

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