The Light of the World

When I walk into a dark room, my immediate reaction is to turn on the light, open the blinds, illuminate the room. In fact, a dark space sends a feeling of dreary apprehension, making me want to race outside into the daylight.

I remember as a child, I loved bright lights. The multi-colored ones with which we trim a Christmas tree or the million twinkling bulbs we use to decorate the outside of our homes.

As an adult, I’m thrilled by the last pink and blue rays before sunset or the street lights in a dark city neighborhood. In fact, I’m fascinated by any source of illumination including candles, flashlights, or fireworks on the Fourth of July.

Recently I read 1John1 where the apostle John tells us how God is light: another Source of light. Perhaps the most pertinent Source anyone could experience. “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.”

So why do others turn from that light? When I see my skin’s flaws in the mirror, I tend to shrink away. I can’t wait to get on my makeup to cover them up. Maybe that’s how some feel when God’s light shines upon them. Maybe it’s painful because He points out failings and imperfections.

Well, I’ve got good news. The rest of the passage says that if we take the step of walking into the light, God’s Son, Jesus, will purify us from all sin. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”

We may look pretty flawed in the God’s light, but He cleans us up. Makes us beautiful. Permanently.

You may want to move away when you first encounter God’s light, but allow God to do His work. You’ll come out on the other side a new and beautiful creature.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2Corinthians 5:17