I Am The Light

JESUS SAID I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. WHOEVER FOLLOWS ME WILL HAVE THE LIGHT OF LIFE AND WILL NEVER WALK IN DARKNESS. John 8.12

In our civilised and progressive world of today who will not admit that they live and walk in darkness? For that matter, we church-going Christians too have a problem with this. We think that our lives are alright. That is only because no one sees our inside and we have learned to hide it well, even from those closest to us! No one will suspect that we too fit into Jesus’ description, “on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness” (Mt 23.28).

When Jesus came into the world, it was ‘light coming’ to light up our lives and deeds – good and bad! John says, “This is why people are condemned: The light came into the world. Yet, people loved the dark rather than the light because their actions were evil. People who do what is wrong hate the light and don't come to the light. They don't want their actions to be exposed. But people who do what is true come to the light so that the things they do for God may be clearly seen” (Jn 3.19-21 GW).

Some years ago someone stole our garden table and chairs. They came at night when all were asleep and the lights were out. Why blame the thieves, don’t we too do the same in many ways? You would always try not to do wrong in public. We tend to do all the bad things in secret. Many do it in the dark of night when no one sees them!

A young pregnant wife in a neighbouring country found out that her bright politician husband was recording naked pictures of their maid and viewing them privately in the middle of the night. A young engineer in town was having an affair with a pretty girl and one night he raped and murdered her! Men and women and youngsters are out on the streets and in pubs and nightclubs until the wee hours of the morning, eating, drinking, and indulging in vices.

Dear believer, look into your life. Though you are a Christian, don’t you still indulge in all kinds of wicked deeds, great and small? We need the light that dawned in Bethlehem – JESUS, to throw His searchlight into our hearts today. He only can reveal what is in you, however saintly you may think you are! Once, he looked at the faces of the crowd and said, "Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man”(Mt 15.19).

Only when you open your life to Jesus who claimed, "I am the light of the world," will you see the darkness in your heart and the wickedness of your deeds. You will hear Him say to you, "Whoever follows me will have the light of life and will never walk in darkness." That will be the end of your walking in darkness and sinning, even in private. Be a Christian not only in 'word but in action!' Keep following Jesus closely. His light will keep shining in you and on you giving you no occasion to walk in darkness and sin!

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, Let Your light shine in me and show me all my open and secret sins. Help me to walk in Your light always that I might not sin against You and others. Amen.