Iremember reading this passage when I first got saved; “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5) The New Living translation says, “and the darkness can never extinguish it.” The New American Standard translation says, “the darkness did not comprehend it.” God’s light had shone into the darkest places of my life and I was forever changed. But I remember thinking, ‘what does it mean the darkness cannot comprehend it?’
Light is unapologetic, it shines and there is no darkness that can stop it from shining. God is God and makes no apology to you, me or anyone else for who He is. God’s light shines like a beacon into the darkness of this world and the darkness cannot stop it. It cannot even understand or comprehend the light. God’s light is a beautiful, mysterious, unexplainable thing. When it shines on us and impacts our lives, we are forever touched by it’s beauty.
John 3:20 tells us, “Everyone who does evil hates the light and will not come into the light, for fear that their deeds will be exposed.” Light and darkness are polar opposites, they are opposing forces. Those who live in darkness get accustomed to living their lives a certain way, they don’t want to be held accountable for their actions.
I remember before I was a Christian having all kinds of logical and rational arguments against God and the Christian faith; I remember knowing that deep down inside I was running from God and didn’t want anyone to hold me accountable for the life I was living. And yet when the light of God invaded my life, I was overwhelmed with the beauty and awesomeness of it. Darkness can have us convinced that living that way is the easiest and best, but the reality is that there is no life more filled with happiness and joy than a life lived in God’s light.
Before I became a Christian, I didn’t believe in heaven, hell, sin etc; I believed these teachings were Christianity’s guilt ridden concepts. But as God’s light began to shine on me, I began to see the sin in my life. Areas of my life were exposed to God’s light! I’ll be honest, there were times I felt so much conviction I would run from the light. But that light had forever changed me and I would always come back, hungry for more.
John 1:5 encourages us that no matter how dark and evil this world becomes, God’s light can never be extinguished. It can never be overcome by darkness. And today, if you are part of this Kingdom of light, you and I are called to continue to walk in the light, to shine this light into the lives of others. Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
When you are a children of God’s Kingdom of light, your light shines by the way you live your life. Now, not everyone will appreciate or celebrate you shining your light for Jesus, but keep shining it anyway! You’re making a difference in the lives of others!
I remember my father telling me, before he was a Christian, he was working in a butchery and his Christian workmate was telling him about Jesus and sharing the gospel. My father said he got so mad at this guy, he threw a knife at him, fortunately it missed! My father had shared with me how there was something in his life that hated the Gospel, light was shining on him and he had lived in darkness all his life, he had an extreme negative reaction to the light!
Soon afterwards my father came to into the light and had an incredible life changing encounter with Jesus. The light of the gospel had drawn him in like a moth to a flame! I remember thinking ‘where would my father have been if his friend at work hadn’t been willing to shine the light of the Gospel into his life?’ You won’t always get a pleasant reception when you share the gospel! And yet this precious workmate was willing to take a risk, share a message to someone who looked like they had no desire to hear it!
I remember a few years ago being in India and some friends there shared with me how several generations ago, missionaries had come from New Zealand to their area with the Gospel. They shared how their whole family were Christians now, today; and how there are many believers, in that region today, because some precious people brought the light of the Gospel into a land filled with darkness! They were so grateful these precious missionaries had made that sacrifice! Shining your light for Jesus is not always easy, but it is always worth it!
1 Corinthians 8:18 tells us “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” Those who live in darkness despise the message of the Cross, but anyone who makes the decision to respond to the light, will experience it’s saving power!
Darkness doesn’t like or understand the Cross. Even the devil himself, the Bible tells us, did not understand the Cross. 1 Corinthians 2:8 says “None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” Darkness’ was responsible for the Cross and yet the Bible says if they had only known they would not have done it. The Cross is the great entrance way for all to be freed from the Kingdom of darkness and enter the glorious light of the Kingdom of God!
The message of the Cross is a message full of God’s glorious light. There are millions today who sit in darkness who have never been exposed to this light and God calls us to bring the light to them! I love the story of Saul of Tarsus. He was a religious man and yet his life was full of religious darkness and spiritual blindness; he was rounding up and murdering God’s precious children.
Eventually, when Saul encountered Jesus and a great light shone on him, he was so impacted, by the light, he was blinded for days until another believer prayed for him to receive his sight. I don’’t know if you have ever been in a dark room for an extended period of time, and then when you come out you are almost blinded by the light of day. This is what happened to Saul, he had been in darkness so long, when he came into the light of God’s Kingdom, he was blinded by it!
Saul’s story gives us hope, that no matter how dark life get’s, there is always an opportunity for the light of God to shine. Maybe today you are believing God for the salvation of a friend or a loved one. I want to encourage you, keep shining the light of Jesus into their life. You may be the only light they ever see!
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