Thursday, February 23, 2023
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 cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7
The Light of the World
Jesus told Paul that one of the four results of opening blind eyes would be that their eyes may turn from darkness to light. …to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light... Acts 26:16-18 During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said that we are the light of the world – here to spread His light to a dark world. Therefore, part of opening blind eyes means that we shine His light so that they can find the light and turn from darkness.
Darkness is a metaphor for so many things – but people who are blind to God’s truth live in spiritual darkness. If they are caught in sin, the darkness covers sin. Satan also uses the cover of darkness to make things look like something they are not, in order to deceive us.
On any given spring or summer night, you will find a swarm of flying insects hovering close to the porch light, as they are attracted to light because of phototaxis. Positively phototactic organisms, such as moths, move towards light sources. Negatively phototactic organisms, on the other hand, move away from light, such as cockroaches that scuttle into a dark corner when you switch the light on. I find it incredibly ironic that the most detestable of creatures, cockroaches, love the darkness. It is symbolic of the sin in our hearts that seek darkness instead of light when we do not want our sinful hearts exposed.
And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God. John 3:19-21
Turning on the light is like turning on the truth. When the light exposes sin, darkness loses its power. The power of Satan is broken by the Spirit of truth. So, when the eyes are opened to see Christ the way He really is, and to see God and the world and sin and righteousness and heaven and hell the way they really are, then the power of Satan is broken.
It is the truth of God that brings light to darkness. The first and last pieces of armor Paul lists in Ephesians 6 to protect us from the principalities and powers and make us effective in fighting them is the belt of TRUTH and the sword of the Spirit which is THE WORD OF GOD.
The light shines and overcomes the darkness, and the darkness can never overcome the light. His light overcomes the darkness of the world, and His light overcomes the darkness in us. His light in us will light the way for others when we share it with them. We are the light of the world, and we are to let His light shine so that others can find the way.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16
