The Light of the World – John 8:12-30

1. Light reveals

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 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. 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. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But 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 3:17-21)

“It is the same as when a physician says to his patient, ‘I have not come to give you poison and cause your death; but I want to help you. If you follow my advice, you need not worry. But if you refuse my advice, call me a rogue or a rascal, regard my medication as nonsense, and will not tolerate me around you, then you are arbitrarily sentencing yourself to death, and then the fault is yours. I am not the one who is killing you now”. (Martin Luther)

2. Light gives

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

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6)

3. Light brings

for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light…for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:8, 14-16)

It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest most uninteresting person you can talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare. All day long we are, in some degree helping each other to one or the other of these destinations. It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is with the awe and the circumspection proper to them, that we should conduct all of our dealings with one another, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics. There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations – these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit – immortal horrors or everlasting splendors. (C.S. Lewis)

What is the true state of my heart right now? What do I need to bring into the light of confession and repentance in order to be healed?

Have I trusted, and am I still trusting Jesus alone to forgive my sins and give me abundant, eternal life with Him?

Am I living with an eternal perspective or has my perspective been “of this world”? How is God calling me to use what He has given me to shine the light of Christ where He has sent me?