Do you ever feel like you’re walking around in a daze? I’ll be honest and tell you that I’ve felt like that a good bit lately, like I’m really not sure where I’m going because I can’t quite see the path. It’s misty like the morning outside my window today.
Surely, I’m not the only one who feels this way sometimes?
Because we all need direction, don’t we?
We have decisions to make. We need to know where to go and what to do and how to do it. I mean, we could walk this path if someone would just shed some light on it, right?
That’s one of the reasons I love the Light of the World.
Jesus.
Listen to his words: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
Now, I know that the darkness he refers to is about more than just my lack of direction from day to day, but I believe he means that, too.
Because the light of life dispels the darkness of sin, but it also illuminates everything else.
My grandmother has a yellowed copy of a story in the Vicksburg Post about a tornado that struck the city one day when my mother was a young girl. The story tells how the rescue efforts went on well into the night, and with the electricity out, things were getting hard to see. One worker recalled seeing a light at the end of the street. He said he and everyone else just started moving toward it. At the end of the street was my great-grandmother with a lantern handing out coffee and sandwiches.
They found her because they followed the light.
That’s how we find the things we need as well because light is always revealing.
That can be scary, can’t it? It’s a bit like looking in the mirror under harsh fluorescent bulbs. We see our flaws. We see our faking because no amount of makeup can cover every blemish or erase every wrinkle. Light exposes them.
John 3:19-21 says, “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 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.”
Y’all, we are just like our ancestors. Adam and Eve hid because they didn’t want their sin exposed. So do we. The thing is: our God is the same today as he was then. His light only exposes our sins so he can cover them. He took the skin of an animal and covered Adam and Eve. He takes the blood of his Son and covers us.
“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:13-14)
We don’t have to fear because he forgives.
And that changes everything. We go from darkness to light, literally. Listen to this:
“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible – and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.” (Ephesians 5:8-13)
Do you hear that?
Even our sins, our failures, our pasts can become a light that leads others to Christ.
That’s why He said, “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)
When we walk in the light, it points others to Him.
I don’t know about you, but if I’m at home alone, I like to have the lights on. For some reason, I feel less lonely. It doesn’t seem so solitary if things aren’t dark, does it?
1 John 1:5-7 says, “God is light; in him there is not darkness at all….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 you’re walking in the light, you’re walking in Him. Walking in the light also means you never walk alone. We have fellowship with him and with each other, and do you know what?
Lights together shine much brighter.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the Light of the World. Would you comment and tell me what that name means to you? Pretty please? I’d also be thrilled if you would join us at Encouraging Word Wednesday and add a link (or two) to a recent faith-filled post!
Also, check out these posts that focus on the Light:
Very encouraging thoughts for this Wednesday. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you!
I am so thankful that Jesus is the Light, to illuminate our paths and show us the Way. Blessings, Cecilia
What a lovely post! I love the story about the tornado and your great grandmother standing there with the lantern and food.
Thank you! I love the story, too. I never knew her so I am so thankful to have this memory of her handed down to me!
This is such a beautiful post and warms my heart. Hearing stories that encourage and remind us of the wonderful Lord above makes me smile! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you! I’m so glad you stopped (and commented!) today!
That story about the tornado gave me chills, especially if you knew my back story. We survived a massive tornado in 2011 so the picture I had in my head thinking of your story was chaotic and beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you! I am so glad you survived the tornado. I never knew my great-grandmother, but thanks to that article, I have this beautiful picture of her in my mind and heart!
There have been many times when I’ve asked Christ for guidance only to block his message because it wasn’t the one I was hoping He would give me. I’ve learned that is never good so I’ve been listening to Him more and to my fleshly thoughts much less.
I know just what you mean! It’s a struggle I think we all share, this learning to listen and obey. How grateful I am for his grace! Thanks for visiting!
The Ephesians 5…but now now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light..I love that and it is such a great reminder to remain in Him so we can be the light!
Wonderful, Charlie. …The Light is powerful and shatters every darkness.
So true….
Lights together shine much brighter.
Thank you for sharing your story.
HeartyBlessings to you
That story about your great grandmother brought tears to my eyes. Walking in light is so important. I remember hearing once “what if you are the only Christian someone met? What would they think of your faith? How would you portray it?” I try hard to walk in light.
Your grandmother’s story is so fascinating. I love the way they were able to be brave women and just love others right where they were. My grandmother was like that…loved brave. And the light He shines fur us… thank goodness! So grateful for the way He illuminates our path so that we can walk with Him. Psalm 139 says that darkness and light are the same to him. It’s why we need to walk with Him because He can see when we can not.
Blessings!
Dawn
Great reminder!
I praise God for His light – especially in the dark world of today! Thank you for this great post! 🙂
I love this and I love that story about your great-grandmother! That is so neat! When I think of the Light of the World, I don’t only think about Jesus Christ, but I think about how we can all be lights in the world, shining examples to others and glorifying His good works.
I’m so thankful Jesus shined His light into the darkness that characterized my life! Blessings!
Amen! Blessings to you!
I’m so grateful that God’s love shines through the darkness. It gives me hope, especially on those dark days. One thing that I find interesting though is that light is only made possible because of the darkness. That gives me lots of food for thought, as does your beautifully written post.
I’m glad to find Encouraging Word Wednesday and will definitely visit again!
Blessings!
Marva | SunSparkleShine
Thank you, Marva! I am so glad you stopped by. Your comment about light and darkness definitely gives me something to ponder. Thank you!