COMING INTO THE LIGHT

 JANUARY 9, 2023

JOHN 3:16-21

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 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.

The season of Epiphany reminds us that the light has come. Epiphany means revelation, revealing, appearance, or manifestation of Jesus to the world. The sudden invasion of God's light into a world of darkness.

Our passage today talks about this darkness that exists and its retreat from light, God's light in Jesus Christ. "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed."

Those who have been drawn to the light, are those who live by the truth, who believe in Jesus are under no condemnation, so they have no fear of the light.

Being drawn into the light results in our hearts longing for truth and hungering for closer fellowship with God. We don't fear our sins being exposed because we come to the Light and there receive mercy, grace, and forgiveness.  This experience of coming to the light develops a desire in us to commit to living in ways that reflect God's faithful lovingkindness, gracious compassion, and righteous character. Psalm 86:15 says, "You, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness." With Psalm 116:5 we exclaim "How kind the Lord is! How good he is! So merciful, this God of ours!"

Isn't it true that once we have experienced the Light through Jesus we want the world to know that God has called us out of darkness into His wonderful light? We want to be caught up in the nature of God's Light, "so that it may be seen plainly that what (We) have done has been done in the sight of God," so that others will see Jesus and be drawn into the light of God as well. Into a new and living relationship with God. 

"For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves." 

 2 Corinthians 4:6-7

LET US PRAY

God, You are faithful, gracious, loving, holy, righteous, and full of compassion. You are God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone are immortal and who lives in unapproachable light. Yet, dear God, You have chosen to come near to us and invite us into fellowship with You through Jesus, the Son, and our Savior, the Light of hearts. Thank you! I praise you! We commit to lighting the way for others to join us in fellowship with You through Jesus. Amen.

This prayer is adapted from 1 Timothy 6:15-16.
2 Corinthians 4:6-10 and 1 Peter 2:9-10.

"You are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light."  Amen.