Saturday, November 15, 2014

LIGHT

In the account of creation, we see that the first thing God created was light. A careful study of the creation account shows us the fact that God created both spiritual and physical light. He created the spiritual light first and then the physical (see Genesis 1:3 & 14). Of course, the spiritual always gives birth to the physical. The entire physical world was birthed by the spiritual substance called: words – The Word of God! Our focus in this discourse is on the spiritual light. The mere fact that God created the light first is a clear indication that the light was top priority to Him. However, when sin entered the world, darkness also entered the world. Man began to grope in darkness – searching for reality. This darkness affected man’s whole being – spirit, soul and body. Humanity was plunged into darkness by the sin of one man – Adam. That’s the reason the world is the way it is today. That’s the reason for the misery, wickedness, corruption, mishaps etc. in the world today. People without this understanding blame God for these bad stuff. Well, God is not the Source of evil, but good! God gave man the power to choose and when he chose to sin against God, he equally chose what sin offers. The coming of Jesus Christ into the world was the return of light! The birth of Jesus Christ was the legal birth of light into a darkness-doomed and dominated world. Jesus said “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.” (John 12:46). Also He says in John 8:12 “…I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” Christianity is simply walking in the light. I John 1:7 says “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (NKJV). The world had been in darkness ever since the fall. What is light and what is darkness? Light is anything that reveals, illuminates, exposes and expels darkness. Light is simply revolutionary! Its presence anywhere brings about radical change and transformation. On the other hand, darkness is misery, bondage, confusion, futility, etc. and it is brought about by the presence and influence of sin. The Word of God clearly tells us the reason many are not saved today: “whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Cor. 4:4,6 NKJV). This is the reason we do not only preach to the lost but also take time to intercede on their behalf before God so that their minds would be flooded with the divine light brought about by the Gospel we preach. The devil loves to have and keep men in darkness because that's the only way He can keep them bound and under his control. He makes men to love darkness just as the Lord Jesus declares in John 3:19: “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” (NKJV). But thank God there's hope in Jesus Christ. When the truth of the Gospel is believed and received, it brings light and liberation from the claws of the devil and there is a birthing into a new kingdom just as Colossians 1:13 says “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,” (NKJV). Glory to God! However, it is also possible for a believer to walk in darkness. So many believers are walking in darkness in one area or the other of their lives. Ignorance is darkness. You see, you are actually in the dark in whatever area you're ignorant. The Word of God takes away that darkness. Psalm 119:130 says “The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.” (NKJV). God wants us to walk in the light in every area of our lives. In which area of your life are you in the dark? Is it in your health, finances or is it in your life in general? Jesus wants to invade your life with light. And the good news is that He wants to do it right now! He is so eager to do it right away! That's why He came (See John 12:46). That's why you're reading this right now. He has purposed to bring the light into every dark area of your life. Simply expose your heart to God’s Word and let Him turn on the light and bring illumination into every area of your life! Now, no matter how great the darkness is, it can never stand the light. Darkness can thrive anywhere but as soon as the light is turned on, it disappears. In John 1:4,5,9 we read “In Him [Jesus] was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.” Glory to God! Jesus declares “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” It is very important for every Believer to know that we are not just the ones needing light but we are the light of the world just as Jesus was while He was physically on earth. Jesus said it Himself in Matthew 5:14 and 16 “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid... Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” We are not called to hide but to shine forth the light of Christ in us. We must shine as God's dazzling light in a world full of darkness! All we need do is to let God use us to bring the light into the dark areas of the lives of the people we come across every day. The effects would be salvation, healing, peace, prosperity, restoration and all the blessings of the Lord. It's a divine responsibility for you to reflect that divine light in you if you have it. And if you don't have that light, YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN! God is saying to you today: “Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.” (Isaiah 60:1-3, NKJV). Glory to God! So what are you going to do about this? It’s time to shine. Blessings!