Living 4 Him

“I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark.” John 12:46
(NLT)

Recently I was reading a book outside with small print.  I was surprised to find I did not need my reading glasses.  The amount of daylight I was receiving outside gave me plenty of light to see the words.  The amount of light we have available to us makes a difference in how we see the world.  And we when we have the Light of Life, it makes a difference like no other.

Jesus described himself as light; a light bringing life and erasing all darkness. “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 going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” John 12:35-36 (NIV)

“I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.” John 12:46

The light of life!  No darkness at all! Children of light! Studying the principles of earthly light guides us to clearer understanding of God’s divine light.  

Light helps us see. One beam of light cutting through darkness enables us to see what is before us and around us.  Divine light enables us to see life in a new way.  Beyond the surface, we see what resides in our own hearts and hearts of others. 

Light reaches. Think of the way sunbeams cross the universe and give us warmth and light.  Think of the way the sun intersects with the moon and glows brightly enough to light the night.  Light spans across distance and likewise, divine light spans an immense distance, reaching the exact spot of our souls in need.

Light warms and transforms.  A cold winter’s day can feel warmer just because sunshine beams upon the land.  Light creates heat which softens and changes solid materials.  Divine light softens and changes the matter in our souls, creating holy ground to live from.

Light creates beauty. Picture a stained glass window and the vibrant colors that appear when light shines through.  Or the way sunlight sparkles upon the surface of water.  Like the brilliance of the sky after sunset or a vibrant rainbow stretching in the sky, God’s light manifests majestic beauty not only around us, but also within us. 

Another principle of light is vitally important for us to remember . . .

Light needs a way in. A door blocks light from a doorway, but a crack of light can shine through underneath.  Drapery blocks light from the window, but light can creep in around the edges. If we want the fullness of God’s divine light, we must open our souls wide to receive his light.  In order to shine God’s light out, we first need to let it in!

John, the apostle who wrote the gospel of the same name, internalized the concept of God as light.  He opened his gospel with this understanding. “In him was life, and his life was a light to all people. The light shines in darkness and the darkness will not overcome it.”  John 1:4-5.  His letter to the Gentiles (1 John) emphasized “God is light and in him there is no darkness.” 1 John 1:5  

Ponder the image of a light so potent that darkness will never extinguish it.  That’s who God is.

Around this time of year, daylight wanes and darkness comes sooner. In the grasp of dark hours, it is easy to forget that God’s light is always shining, always warming our hearts, always transforming our souls.

As we internalize the understanding that God’s light is the true light with power to show us life beneath the surface, we step into God’s kingdom where his light reaches us, warms us, transforms us, and creates a lasting beauty. With God’s light, we overtake the night and beam his brightness into the darkness of the world. 

**Enjoy a bonus poem below titled, “Light Overtakes Night.”

Reaching in (allowing God’s words to work in your souls):  Reread the scripture references on light noted above.  Let God’s light lead you to new or deeper understandings.

Reaching out (taking God’s word into the world): Insert the word ‘light’ into the search feature in Bible Gateway. https://www.biblegateway.com/ Find several verses to remind you that God is light. 

Light Overtakes Night  by Janice M. Gibson

Light overtakes night.

Morning whispers it way into the world,

holding its own light to our eyes.

But only the True Light will help us see beyond . . .

beyond the details of the day, beyond the hardships of the night.

True Light enlivens our souls.

Open wide the door to your soul and let True Light flood

every corner, every facet, of your heart and your mind.

Light overtakes night

with a power unmatched . . .

          melting the madness

          illuminating the lovely

          sparking the spirit within.

True Light lifts us to higher levels of hope, of happiness.

And when darkness enters our eyes or our hearts or our souls,

True Light overtakes night

and in goodness,

we glow.