The Light Shines

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5)  

I can’t count the mornings or evenings I have been struck with awe by the beauty of the sunrise or sunset. The angles of light against the clouds and colors produced is stunning and sets my heart and soul upon God’s magnificence. In this backdrop Yeshua makes an astounding comparison, “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) He continues by talking about the fulfillment of the Law. The Law will not pass away “until heaven and earth disappear”. They will happen as foretold in scripture and the Law will be completed in heaven because Yeshua finished it for us upon the cross by His sacrifice.

That truth is like light that cannot be hidden, although the darkness does not understand it and cannot overcome it. “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.” (John 3:19-21) We experience this as light illuminates worldly ways in others and ourselves. I listened to a sermon as the preacher “beat the sheep” and lauded human intellect, but the light which exposed his words exposed my own intrigue with intellectualism. (Ephesians 5:8-11) 

“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 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, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.” (1 John 1:5-10)