The Light
Have you ever experienced power outage at night? When it happened, all the lights were out and all you have is the moonlight?
I came from a small village, where electricity is a luxurious, never imagined of “necessity” during my childhood time. The greatest moment I could remember is before the darkness fell in, and my dad would start bumping up the one and only gasoline lamp we had at home. Sometimes it worked faster that we had light on before it became real dark. Sometimes it just took ages and we were gathering around dad to wait for the one tiny lamp to light up.
We would all shout with joy when the light from the lamp speared through the darkness in our room, which was basically a combined living and dining area. We would start dispersing to our own directions after that.
Have you ever had that experience? Or just by lighting a candle during the night (in the dark, of course)? Whatever lay in the dark was now being revealed in the light. Just imagine that we no longer need to navigate through the dark but walk straight to our destination.
Well, Jesus is that light. Jesus is light. Whoever believes in Him has the light. Therefore, we have no choice but to shine in the darkness. Not because we are outshining the darkness, but because we have Jesus in us, who shines.
So what can we do with the light? Do we suppress it? Hide it? Run away from it? Do whatever we can to mellow it? The fact is, we can’t. We cannot contain it because light shines in the dark regardless – most importantly, it is not us who shines, but the light of Jesus.
So how do we deal with it?
1. Believe in the Light
First and foremost, we believe in the Light.
While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
– John 9:5 NIV
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
– John 8:12 NIV
You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.
– 1 Thessalonians 5:5 NIV
Believe in the Light, and remember He is the source of Light of all mankind. We do not shine on our own but shine through Him who gives us Light.
He himself (John the Baptist) was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
– John 1:8 NIV
2. Follow the Light
The next best thing is to choose to follow the Light. With light, we see the pathway, so that we don’t stumble and fall.
God gives us the light and God also warns us of the wrong light.
Be watchful not to follow the wrong light, as they will lead you away from the true Light.
Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.
– Matthew 15:14 NIV
Be wise to get ourselves out of the darkness as soon as we are aware of it, because the longer we stay in the dark, we will adjust to the darkness, accept and settle in the darkness. Once our eyes and mind adjust to the darkness, we will learn to navigate through the darkness. That’s when we start to conform to the dark world.
So, make the right choice to follow the true Light, not following the light of the world. Those are man-made lights, which justify their own brightness, their wrong behaviours and intentions, feeding their own flesh and self-satisfaction.
3. Shine the Light
Once we believe and follow the Light, shine it so that those in the darkness can see and follow the path to eternity.
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
– Matthew 5:14-16 NIV
“No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.”
– Luke 11:33-36 NIV
You know what, the greatest picture I see through all these is, people in the darkness could walk straight to the Light. They don’t need to detour to me or anyone else to walk to the Light but freely walking towards the true Light. Isn’t it the greatest joy ever to see that picture? Everyone on earth lining up, walking to the true Light, the Light of Life. Not being manipulated by the dark forces. I claim this in the Name of Jesus, because I know:
In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
– John 1:4-5 NIV
When we see a darkness in the room, as God and ask Him to lead us towards it. Don’t walk away before asking God’s guidance and leading. Not because we can, but because we choose to believe and follow the Light. Let His Light shine through us so that others may see the Light too.
Praise His Holy Name. Amen.