Light

During my advent reading last night, I was challenged to think about what a stark contrast there is between light and darkness. Isn't it interesting how light and darkness cannot exist in the same place? Darkness is merely the absence of light, yet in the absence of light there is blindness and uncertainty.

Ever slept in a new place and tripped over something at night that you couldn't see on the way to the bathroom?

Ever seen cockroaches flee when exposed to light?

Ever been amazed at how the darkness which covers the Earth at night disappears when the sun rises?

Only where light breaks into the darkness can reality be seen: things that were once invisible, cloaked in darkness, become visible. This is true not only of the physical world but of the spiritual one as well.

Only the true light can reveal the reality of the darkness in each of our hearts, the darkness that welcomes sin and leads to death, thus separating us from God...

Only Jesus, the light of the world, is able to take our sin and give us His righteousness because He bore the sins of many on the cross and rose again to sit down at the right hand of God. He alone is able to shine His light into the darkness of our hearts and restore our relationship with God because of what He has done.

And like the physical reality, once light is revealed, the darkness flees... it no longer exists. This is also true of our hearts.

What a blessing it is to have such a simple physical reality that mirrors a much deeper, oh-so important spiritual reality. This is my take-away from yesterday:

The only true, revealing light is Jesus, and living in Him means walking in the light, not the darkness.

⁴ In him was life, and the life was the light of men. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:4-5)

¹⁶"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. ¹⁸ Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. ¹⁹ 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. ²⁰For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. ²¹But 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 3:16-21)

¹² Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

Thank You, Lord, that You have given us light in Jesus, not only to see how utterly black our own darkness is because of sin, but also to bring us everlasting life in your Kingdom of Light through Jesus' blood. Draw me more and more into the light and out of the darkness that I may be made perfect and complete at the coming of Christ.

...for more on celebrating Jesus' first and second comings through Advent Readings, check out these ministries' recommendations:

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