I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. John 12: 46 ESV

When I was a young child, I remember a sleepless night due to limited light in my bedroom. This small amount of light only allowed me to see shapes of different items in the room, causing my imagination to run wild. I saw a man standing in the corner and a wild animal on the dresser ready to pounce. There were other images I saw that night that were all lies, and because of the low light and a wild imagination, I was robbed of rest. Hours I laid in bed with my focus dancing from lie to lie, only because I could not see the truth of what the objects really were. The morning sun rose and light began to fill the room and my needless fear was relieved as I saw each item for what it really was. When my fears were relieved, I closed my eyes and fell into a deep relaxing sleep….no more fear. I was surrounded by light. Three things Jesus reminds us of with the words he spoke in John 12:46.

     I have come into the world as light: The world can be a cold dark place, but when His light illuminates the darkness that overwhelms our souls, we can see. See hope where there might have been despair. See joy in the mist of sadness. See life where once death was the victor. See God as He really is … as light. God is light, and in him is no darkness. 1 John 1: 5b Jesus is God made flesh and is the light in our lives that will remove the fear of uncertainty.

     So that whoever believes in me: Believing is important because whatever you believe will determine how you live. The person that does not believe in Jesus lives knowing that he/she will one day die. The person that lives believing in Him will live knowing they will never die.

    May not remain in darkness: When using a flashlight, you can see far enough ahead of you to be comfortable when taking the next step. The darkness of sin overwhelms the souls of men that walk and stumble in its darkness. Jesus obviously is more than a flashlight, but the principle applies when traveling through life. Jesus is the guiding light of the soul that is overcome in the darkness of sin. He is the light that will lead you to an abundant life in Him when you confess your sin, repent, and believe. Believe that He is the light of the world.

Because of His Grace ~ Pastor David