(1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
(2) He was in the beginning with God.
(3) All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
(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.
I heard a sermon this week by Erwin Lutzer where he said, "you notice nobody looks for a 'flashdark' they always look for a 'flashlight.'" He went on to say darkness never overcomes light but light always overcomes darkness. I thought that was something to ponder. Jesus was the light that came into this world. This time of year is a good time to meditate on that. What a thing God wrought in the earth!! In the darkness we do not see. Many want to stay in that darkness because they become accustomed to it, and it's comfortable to them. Many times we let in only so much light, but we don't want too much because light tends to expose things. It shows what's really there. Jesus is such a light. He exposes the thoughts and intents of the heart and shows us what is really inside of us. Many times that is just too difficult for us to see or accept. That's why along with that light, exposing all, He is also the remedy and Savior of our hearts once the disease in them is truly exposed. He's the healer of the heart He Himself breaks with exposing light, exposing and convicting of the sin that is killing and destroying us - the very thing we think is our happiness and with all our strength try to hold onto.
Luke 2:31-35
(31) that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
(32) a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel."
(33) And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.
(34) And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed
(35) (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed."
Hebrews 4:12-13
(12) For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
(13) And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Robertson's Word Pictures: May be revealed (apokaluphthōsin). Unveiled. First aorist passive subjunctive after hopōs an and expresses God’s purpose in the mission of the Messiah. He is to test men’s thoughts (dialogismoi) and purposes. They will be compelled to take a stand for Christ or against him. That is true today.
People react to light in different ways. They also react to God's light - His truth - in many different ways. Many hate that truth so much that they will do anything to stop it, to change it, to cover it, and to twist it around and confuse it. But darkness cannot overcome light. Light shown onto that darkness of deception always exposes it. Then those who oppose it will react violently, most often, even "gnashing with the teeth" (Acts 7:51-54), just as they did Stephen when he spoke the truth exposing the lies in their hearts. But in spite of the reactions of some who hated the truth and ultimately stoned and killed Stephen, many others listened and embraced the truth and found the life that truth can bring to the heart and soul. They let it expose them. They let it wound. And they ultimately let it heal. If we receive the Light of life as a good thing, it will save us and heal us and bring us life that will be eternal.
If we come to the light (His Word, the Bible), daily, as His children, the light will keep us from all the darkness in this world. We'll see clearly. We'll be drawn to what that light shows as true and good and righteous. But as His children, we sometimes don't learn to abide in that light daily, and so we let darkness hide the secret sins of the heart. We hold onto them as though they are our happiness and life, afraid of exposure. We take on the dark excuses of the flesh and the world to make them look good and acceptable, and we compromise. We don't dare listen to someone who has light from the Living Word to expose them because it would just be too painful for us to let them go and find the alternative.
But what is the alternative? The alternative is to let the flashlight of the Word of God examine, discern, and pierce the soul, freeing us from those things, submitting to His truth in our inner beings, and in the process finding Christ as our life and happiness. His light is life and health and freedom, which faith finds, accepts, and realizes as true. Today truth is rejected vehemently among the masses, even called "hate speech," only because it is speech they hate with a passion. They hold onto their deception with a vengeance and must make it so everyone else will agree with them as well or be killed or silenced. They try desperately to snuff out all sources of truth any and every way they can, through legal and political means and through violence when necessary, just as they did in Jesus day. Yet the darkness can never overcome the truth. Truth is God's flashlight and it will always overcome the darkness right up to the very end when God Himself, sends His Son, the Light of the world, to return to the earth and that very light will slay the darkness with a Word, bringing truth and righteousness to the earth at last.
Rev_19:15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. Rev_19:21 And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.
Jesus came into this world as a light shining in a darkness that was keeping mankind in bondage. His light was meant to bring life, and not death (John 3:16-21). His purpose was to bring truth, salvation, light, life, love, and all things good to us to make us rejoice, and give us happiness in Him forever. "Joy to the world," "peace on earth and good will toward men," these are the things, His light received, brings to the heart of all who receive Him in truth. As the world celebrates Christmas, and even sings the songs of His coming to earth to bring that joy and peace, yet they don't receive the truth of that light, they never actually know it. They instead trade it for a few days in December of parties and cookies, and family gatherings and presents that will very quickly end, leaving them with a lot of bills and heartaches and wonder what it's all about. Some will try to find a deeper meaning by doing some good deeds to serve others or show love for one month or one day out of the year, but never realizing yet the heart of why He came and what the gift that He gave to the world is all about. When that light is received in the heart, any of those things become an expression of true joy in Him, and a way to share that light with others.
He came because of a promise of God to bring salvation to all of mankind, whosoever will, and to bring His light in the darkness of a world lost and caught up in its own way of wandering through life without Him, trying desperately to bring fulfillment and happiness to themselves and always moving further and further away from it, until the light shines through to their hearts and enables them to see He alone is the truth, the life, and the way. Father in Heaven, I pray in Jesus name, that many today will open their eyes and allow You to come in to their darkness and shine Your light brightly and bring truth and everlasting joy, peace, and life to them.
(Psalms 147:3) He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
If you want to know more about this salvation and are not sure you are going to Heaven, you can know. His Word assures us how we can know. Click here to read more.
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