WHO’S YOUR ONE? Day 20

The Blindness of Unbelievers

“In their case, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’s sake. For God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:4-6‬ ‭CSB‬‬

The way we live as Christians looks like foolishness to the unbeliever. They are prevented from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, and consequently, the things of Christ appear strange and foreign. They are prevented from seeing and being in an intimate relationship with God Himself. As we share the gospel with our one, we do not share in such a way as to make ourselves look great. We proclaim Christ as servant messengers who are praying God would use us to shine light into the darkness of the lives of unbelievers. May this light give knowledge to those we share the good news with each day.

Pray God would give “the light of the knowledge of God’s glory” to your one. (From “Who’s Your One?” Devotional, NAMB)

BAD NEWS; GOOD NEWS

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’”
— ‭‭John‬ ‭14:6‬‬

Our spiritual condition is a bad news, good news scenario. The bad news is that we are sinners separated from God—a universal condition that we are born in and throughout a lifetime of rebellious choices become entrenched in. Our final destination on that path is hell. Where is the good news?  It is this—God did not leave us in that state without remedy. We can be born again!  That second birth enables us to be in a right relationship with God and repentance brings us to right choices on a path that ends in heaven.

Without Christ, you are lost.  We are wandering farther and farther from God and closer and closer to the Abyss. That’s the bad news.  The good news is Christ is the Way.  Jesus came to be the bridge across the great divide between us and Holy God.

Without Christ, you are deceived.  That’s the bad news.  Our minds are twisted by error. The good news is Christ is the Truth.  His life that He demonstrated and the lessons that He declared revealed the truth about God and His ways.

Without Christ, you are dead in sin.  You are not merely sick, but dead, and dead people cannot fix themselves. That’s the bad news.  The good news is Christ is the Life.  He possesses resurrection power and by His Spirit will summon you through the Word of God to life.

If you have come to Christ, then rejoice and give Him praise. It was not because of anything good you have done, but the good in Him. That’s grace!

If you have not come to Him, will you hear His voice, and respond to His call today?

THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD REFLECTED

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.”  (John 8:12a). But, in another place, He declared, “You are the light of the world.” (Matt.5:14a). This is what it means to be a disciple—a Christ-follower. “He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. “ (John 8:12b).

Our light is a reflected light. Think in terms of the light of our sun and moon. The sun is the source of light. The moon does not generate its own light, but reflects the light of the sun. Thus, the Son of God is the source of any light we have, but we are designed to radiate His glory to the world.

Jesus is in heaven. If He is to be seen on earth, it will be through His church. The glory of God that was manifested in His human body on earth is now meant to be revealed in His spiritual body—the church.

Our world is a dark place. The night of sin has fallen upon the planet. Yet, that makes the need for light all the greater, and causes our light in contrast to be so bright—just like a full moon in a clear sky.

Maintain fellowship with the Lord. Spend time in His presence. In a lunar eclipse, the shadow of earth comes between the moon and sun, and the light of the moon is obscured. If we are not careful, this world can have that effect on us.

In your showing of good works and the sharing of Gospel words, let your light shine today!

THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD REJECTED

So many reject the Light because of an obstinate darkness.

“The Pharisees therefore said to Him, ‘You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true.’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going. You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me. It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true. I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me.’ Then they said to Him, ‘Where is Your Father?’ Jesus answered, ‘You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also.’” (John 8:13-19).

The darkness of unbelief is a stubborn thing.

 “And He said to them, ‘You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.’” (‭‭John‬ ‭8:23-24‬)

 At last, these who spurned the Light and sought the darkness committed the sin for which there is no forgiveness. ‘Then the Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?’” (John‬ ‭8:48‬)

Christ offered Himself as their King, and they would cry, “We have no king but Caesar!” (19:15).  Jesus demonstrated the credibility of His claims by the miracles He performed, but they attributed it to the power of Satan.  Their obstinate darkness would take them into outer darkness.  That is how Jesus described hell—a dark pit of torment where the light of life is shut off—a second death; a place where the light of love is shut out—away from God’s gracious presence.

I beg you—don’t reject the Light of the World!

THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD RECEIVED

“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.’” (John‬ ‭8:12‬‬).

Consider the context of John 8:12.  

As the Kingdom of God is defined by light, the kingdom of Satan is dominated by darkness.  The previous verses (v.1-11) tell the story of a woman caught in the act of adultery, but the light of Christ shone upon her and changed her life forever.  The dominion of sin was overthrown. Jesus also exposed the self-righteous in His light, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” (v.7‬). They all had to drop their rocks. The only One sinless who could have condemned her, chose to forgive her (v.11) and called her to a life of walking in the light.

In the next chapter, we read of a man blind from birth (9:1ff).  The Kingdom of God is defined by life, while the kingdom of Satan is dominated by death. That is the spiritual condition of all in this world by virtue of their physical birth who need a spiritual birth to open their eyes to the light of truth and life (see John 1:4-13).  We dwell in a shadowland of sin, spiritually dead in trespasses and sins. When the blind man received Christ, he became a new person.  Christ can break the bondage of darkness in your life and bring you into new life in Him!  It is the dawn of a new day.

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” (Eph.‭5:8‬).

THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD REVEALED

“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.’” (John‬ ‭8:12‬‬)

The purpose of light is to reveal—to shine out and to show up a thing.  This revelation is the outshining of God’s very glory.

Christ shines out the person of God.  When He claims to be the Light, He claims to be God.  Is He a liar, lunatic, or Lord?  Those are the only options.  He is either a deceiver, delusional, or Deity.  John was an eyewitness to His glory revealed on the Mountain of Transfiguration and testified, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John‬ ‭1:14‬).  Paul saw that Light and said Jesus is “the image of the invisible God” (Col.1:15). Hebrews 1:3 speaks of, “the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person….”

Christ shows up the path to God.  The Lord had just attended the Feast of Tabernacles (7:2). This feast celebrated the pilgrimage of the Jews through the wilderness. You may recall the glory cloud—a pillar of cloud that directed them by day and a pillar of fire by night. This glory cloud rested above the tabernacle. When it moved, they moved. As the glory cloud led the Israelites through the wilderness, so Christ is the Light of the world to guide us to God and in the path of His will day by day until we reach the eternal light of glory.

“For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shown in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Cor.4:6).

THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.’” (John‬ ‭8:12‬‬)

Seven times, in John’s Gospel, Jesus identified Himself with metaphors in which He connected Himself with Yahweh, “I AM.”  The one we will consider this week is Jesus claim, “I am the light of the world.”

Light means life. Without it, living things would die. The plants would shrivel and decay, and with that animals and humans would perish.

Jesus uses that to illustrate that He as the Light of the World gives life to the world. He is the source and sustainer of life—real life, eternal life. We cannot have it apart from Him.

Without that light we stumble in the darkness—lost and headed into the Abyss, and a doom that is the deepest darkness of utter despair. Yet, today the Light of the World beckons us to come to Him, and by following that Light we find eternal life.

There shines the Beacon of Hope. Do you see it?  Have you come?  There is a way out of the darkness!

PORTRAITS OF GOD: THE SUN

“For the LORD God is a sun and shield...” (Ps.84:11a)

As the light of our sun brings life, illumines our way, and dispels the darkness, thus does God, our spiritual Sun.  He is the source of life—without Him we could not survive.  He shines to show us the way—without Him we would stumble and be lost.  He overwhelms the darkness of sin and death.  It cannot stand before the majesty of His glory!

The sun which is the star at the center of our solar system, is far from the largest, brightest, hottest star in the universe.  That cannot be said of God, the Sun. He is a Sun who eclipses all other suns.  Ancient peoples worshipped the sun, moon, and stars as gods.  Yet, these are all created things, and our Sun is the Creator of all things—the only true and Living God.

This is our seventh and final portrait of God in the Psalms.  There are others, but we will end our study here.  The big question is why do we have all these word pictures?  Because God is so great that merely a few words cannot adequately describe Him. Yet, it is imperative that we know Him, for we will worship something, and only the knowledge of the true God will save us.

Do you know Him today?

CONTACT WITHOUT CONTAMINATION

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.  (Daniel 1:8)

Christians are to be in the world, yet not of the world.  The firefighter is in the fire, but not of the fire.  He cannot do his job without being close to the fire, but if he becomes of the fire it is life-threatening.  Believers are to have contact with our world, but not contamination from the world.  The story of Daniel and his three young friends in chapter one of his book provides insight.

We are presented with a complex and perplexing dilemma  (v.1-4)  How in this world can I be holy?  We live in a world filled with filth bent on polluting us.  Yet, God has deliberately placed us in this kind of environment—otherwise, we could not carry out our mission.  These four teenagers faced such a challenge to their faith.  They had to learn to be conversant with a pagan culture, but not corrupted by it.  Jesus has not called us to be isolated, but insulated, from the world.  We are not summoned to a monastery, but a ministry.  We are to be salt that seasons society and arrests the spread of corruption, but salt has to make contact before it can help preserve and season.  If it remains in the salt shaker it can’t do any good.  We are also to be the light of the world—and a flashlight at noonday won’t do much, but put it in the dark and it can show the way.  

This is not to minimize a clear and present danger (v.5-8).  It is the little compromise that opens the door to a major catastrophe.  How often Satan says, “That’s not so bad—people do much worse.”  Or, “Just this once—what could it hurt?”  Just a little wine—Satan whispered to Daniel—everybody else is doing it.  You don't have to be an oddball.  So it begins.  No one starts out with the goal of becoming an alcoholic, but you’ll never have to worry about that if you don't take the first drink.  Nobody intends to become a drug addict, and you won’t if you don’t smoke that first joint.  People don't become bankrupt from gambling without placing the first bet.  You won’t become  pregnant out of wedlock or contract an STD, if you don’t surrender your virginity.

We must make a committed and persistent decision (v.8-10).  They drew a line in the sand.  The old country song is so true, “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.”  That line you draw will have to be redrawn again and again.  Temptation functions like gravity.  It is constant and must be resisted.  The chief of the eunuchs was worried about losing his head—Daniel’s fate might be the same.  You don’t tell a tyrant, “No.”  But Daniel wasn’t worried about death for he had already died—died to self and to the world.

This brought a complete and powerful deliverance (v.11-20).  Daniel says, “Watch me and I’ll prove God is real!”  If God didn't come through, he was through!  Our world isn’t impressed with words—it waits to see the reality of our faith.  Miracles come to those expecting one.  Even the pagans had to take notice.  We can make a difference by being different.  Will we?

THE SON OF GOD

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.  (John 1:14)

Jesus is the Godman—not half God and half man, but fully God and fully man—just as much man as if He were not God and just as much God as if He were not man.  He is the Only Begotten Son, Jesus the One and Only.  Matthew begins with His genealogy and stresses His royalty as the Son of David; Mark begins with His ministry and underscores His activity as the Servant of Jehovah; Luke begins with His nativity and emphasizes His humanity as the Son of Man.  John takes us back into eternity and stresses His deity as the Son of God.  John has three expressions He uses repeatedly in His writings: life, light and love.  Each one of these are characteristic of the Son of God. 

So we see Christ’s DIVINE LIFE.  In John 1:14, the aged Apostle John declares, “We beheld His glory….”  Christ Himself said, “I am the resurrection and the life.”  (11:25a)  In chapters 1-12 of John’s Gospel, we find this emphasis.  When the beginning began, Christ already was the Eternal Son—without beginning or ending.  John calls Him, “The Word.”  Words are how we communicate.  When God was ready to speak fully and finally to the world, He communicated through the living Word, Jesus—the Word made flesh.  Jesus not only made the claim, He manifested the credentials.  Seven “signs,” are featured in this book.  John didn’t claim to record all His miracles, but seven were selected and are called signs that demonstrate His Deity.

In John’s Gospel we also witness Christ’s DIVINE LIGHT.  John told us that “we beheld His glory….” Glory is the radiance of God—His Divine light outshining.  He said, “I am the light of the world.”  (9:5)  There are many mysteries of the Kingdom of God—hidden truths that Jesus came to reveal as the light of His teaching shone upon the disciples and He does in chapters 13-17.  When Jesus wanted to teach His disciples the essence of service, He didn’t just say it, He showed it, as He took a towel, girded Himself, and washed the disciple’s feet.  When they left the upper room He taught them about abiding in His life and love as a branch abides in the vine and bears fruit.  There are lessons about the Holy Spirit and a holy life.  He teaches them about the importance of prayer and unity as God’s children. 

John’s Gospel culminates in chapters 18-21 with Christ’s DIVINE LOVE.  John said that His glory was “that of the only begotten of the Father….”  To see Him was to see the Father.  God is love and therefore Christ is love incarnate.  He stated, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”  (15:13)  It was love that brought Him from eternity to earth on a mission to save sinners.  We see Him nailed to a cross to pay the price for our sins.  But, Eternal Love cannot be sealed in a tomb!  Christ in His resurrection glory appears to Mary, to ten of His disciples, and then to Thomas who had his doubts.  Those doubts were overcome!  Later, Jesus eats with the eleven and restores Simon Peter who had denied Him.  As Jesus was sent to seek the lost lambs, so He sends His disciples today on a mission of love.

DAYLIGHT IN THE DARK

 

Moreover the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah a second time, while he was still shut up in the court of the prison….  (Jeremiah 23:1-26)

Jeremiah was engulfed by the darkness of a dungeon.  It suited the Stygian shadow on his soul—and that not just because of his own suffering, but what was coming upon Jerusalem.  The lampstand inside the temple and the fires kindled on the altars were soon to be extinguished.  Judah had chosen to walk away from God’s light and so the Lord gave them what they wanted.

Yet, into the midnight of the dungeon burst a ray of hope—God had a word for His prophet.  The Psalmist declared, “The entrance of Your words gives light….”  (Ps.119:130)  God’s revelation brought that to his suffering servant.

God directed his man to look up.  He was invited to call out to the Lord, who promises to show him unexpected and unimaginable things.  Though the prophet’s body was in the pit, his spirit surely soared with encouragement!

This was not some positive-thinking, “look on the bright side of things,” which denied reality.  It was dark and getting darker for the people of God.  In His righteous anger, God would overthrow the city. 

That condition, however, would not be a permanent one.  The Lord promised to heal their backsliding.  In a future day, He would liberate them from captivity.  The Redeemer would cleanse and forgive the sin of God’s people.

The promise of future blessing was a light in the present darkness.  The Jews would someday honor the Lord’s name instead of bringing reproach.  Worship would resume in the house of God.  The desolate places will become fruitful and the flocks and herds multiply.  The promises of God will be kept. In Christ, they are yes and amen!  Jesus will see to it when He returns to reign on the throne of David and takes universal dominion.  Israel will be saved and sanctified.  The king and the priest will serve in their positions.  Nothing can halt the fulfillment of God’s intention. You may as well try to stop the world from turning on its axis as to expect God to abandon His covenant people.  He promised Abraham that his progeny would be more numerous than the sands of the sea or the stars in the sky—and so it will be!  The people were at the moment feeling the darkness of dread and despair.  That reality will be transcended by the ultimate reality—the faithfulness of God will not fail.

Friend, are you in a dark dungeon of dismal circumstances today?  Do not despair of hope, if you are a child of God.  Take the Book and open it.  You will find the light of truth breaking into the gloom.  Call out to the Lord for those great and mighty things you think are impossible.  Nothing is too hard for the Lord!  Look to the promises of God.  He cannot fail.  He will not break His oath to you.  Here is daylight in the dark!

THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”  (John 8:12)

One tremendous theme threads its way through the Gospel of John—the deity of Christ.  John wants us to know Jesus is more than a carpenter, greater than even the greatest of men, that He is indeed the Son of God.  Three wonderful words are woven into the text—light, life, and love.  Each one describes the essence of the Father and the Son.  Seven supernatural signs are selected by the writer to stress Christ’s deity.  Then, we have seven sublime statements where Jesus used the phrase, “I am,” which the Jews understood as the name of God, as He revealed Himself to Moses—thus, Jesus was claiming to be God Incarnate.  One of those statements is, “I am the light of the world.”

First, we consider THE LIGHT AS IT WAS REVEALED.  The purpose of light is to reveal—to shine out and to show up a thing.  Christ shines out the person of God.  When He claims to be the Light, He claims to be God.  Is He a liar, lunatic, or Lord?  Those are the only options.  He is either a deceiver, delusional or Deity.  John was an eyewitness to His glory revealed on the Mt. of Transfiguration.  Paul saw that Light and said He is the image of the invisible God (Col.1:15), and Hebrews 1:3 speaks of, “the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person….”  Christ shows up the path to God.  As the glory cloud led the Israelites through the wilderness, so Christ is the Light of the world to guide us to God (see 2 Cor.4:6).

Next, we note THE LIGHT AS IT WAS RECEIVED.  Consider the context.  As the Kingdom of God is branded by brightness, the kingdom of Satan is dominated by darkness.  The previous verses tell the story of a woman caught in the act of adultery, but the light of Christ shone upon her and changed her life forever.  In the next chapter, we read of a man blind from birth.  That is the spiritual condition of all in this world by virtue of their physical birth who need a spiritual birth to open their eyes to the light of truth and life (see John 1:4-13).  When the blind man received Christ, he became a new person.  Christ can break the bondage of darkness in your life and bring you into new life in Him!  It is the dawn of a new day.

Sadly, we find THE LIGHT AS IT WAS REJECTED.  So many reject the Light because of an obstinate darkness (John 8:13-19).  The darkness of unbelief is a stubborn thing (v.23-24).  At last, these who spurned the Light and sought the darkness committed the sin for which there is no forgiveness (8:48).  Christ offered Himself as their King, and they would cry, “We have no king but Caesar!” (19:15).  Jesus demonstrated the credibility of His claims by the miracles He performed, but they attributed it to the power of Satan.  Their obstinate darkness would take them into outer darkness.  That is how Jesus described hell—a dark pit of torment where the light of life is shut off—a second death; a place where the light of love is shut out—away from God’s gracious presence.

None have to go there.  The hymn beckons, “Come to the light, ’tis shining for thee....”  Have you?  Will you?

CHRIST, THE WORD OF GOD

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  (John 1:1)

What would the world be without words?  You could not read this any more than I could write it.  Communication would only be grunts and gestures.  Imagine no cards or calls, letters or lyrics, e-mails or text messages, no on could write a book or read one.  Words are vital.  They reveal things.  Words express thoughts.  They communicate who we are.  John, thus, has chosen to present Jesus as the Word of God.  The Son reveals the Father.  He expresses God’s nature perfectly.  Christ communicates the mind of God clearly.

Jesus is the Word in THE BEGINNING OF THE CREATION (John 1:1-2).  The first chapter of this Gospel takes us back to the first chapter of Genesis.  We find the Word to be preexistent, “In the beginning was the Word….”  When the beginning began, Christ already was.  Since He was already in the beginning when all creation things began that means He is eternal and uncreated.  There was a time on His mother’s side when He was born the Son of Man, but on His Father’s side He has always been the Son of God!  We find the Word to be personal, “the Word was with God….”  There is only one God, yet Jesus is a distinct person in the Trinity.  The term John uses means, “face to face” with God, conveying an intimacy we cannot fully grasp.  In the face of Jesus we see the face of God.  This means the Word is powerful, “and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.”  He is the great I AM, the Lord, the Almighty—all power resides in Him.  That power is available to us as we are in union with Christ!  (see Col.2:9-10)

Jesus is the Word in THE BIRTHING OF THE CREATION (v.3-4).  John uses simple terms to express sublime thoughts.  The Word has birthed the natural creation (v.3).  This material word was spoken into existence.  Scripture teaches that the Triune God—Father, Son and Spirit were all involved in that creative act.  The Word also births the new creation (v.4).  The natural creation fell under the curse—in the darkness of sin and death.  Jesus came to make a new creation and bring light and life.  In our natural birth we are sinners stumbling toward Hell. By a new birth we are made saints suited for Heaven!

Jesus is the Word in THE BATTLE FOR THE CREATION (v.5).  This verse suggests a conflict as darkness tries to extinguish the Light, and a conquest as the Light overcomes the darkness and dispels it instead.  The Light of the Word discloses Satan.  The Old Serpent would prefer to slither in the shadows and strike the unsuspecting.  John tells us the Serpent’s spawn do likewise.  Jesus, however, exposes evil and error.  The Light of the Word defeats Satan.  Christ became flesh and was subjected to all the temptations we encounter, but overcame them all. Since the Wicked One could not defile Him, he tried to destroy Him.  He moved in the hearts of his henchmen to nail Him to a cross and seal Him in a tomb.  Darkness fell on the earth as He hung on the cross.  Despair gripped the disciples as He lay in the grave.  But, on the third day, He arose—bursting through the darkness in unconquerable light!  We can enter the Light and experience liberation!

God has spoken through His Son.  Will you hear and heed Him?

THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

 

So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town.  And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything.  And he looked up and said, “I see men like trees, walking.”  Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up.  And he was restored and saw everyone clearly.  (Mark 8:23-25)

Apart from Christ, we are in the darkness of sin—blind to the truth.  We grope along to find heaven while walking ever closer to the abyss.  The hymn writer expressed the idea this way: “The whole world was lost in the darkness of sin; the Light of the World is Jesus; like sunshine at noonday, His glory shone in; the Light of the World is Jesus.  Come to the Light, ‘tis shining for thee; sweetly the Light has dawned upon me; Once I was blind, but now I can see; the Light of the World is Jesus.”  Jesus said, “I am the Light of the World.  He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12).  This is the theme developed in our text.  There are two kinds of blindness here—and the former is worse than the latter.  The first is a blindness of the soul and the second of the senses.

There was A SPIRITUAL PROBLEM (8:13-21).  Blind Helen Keller said, “The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.”   Jesus rebukes His disciples lack of spiritual perception in saying, ‎“Do you not yet perceive nor understand?  Is your heart still hardened?  Having eyes, do you not see?  And having ears, do you not hear?  And do you not remember?” (v.17b-18).  Jesus had warned them of the danger of false teaching: “the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”  The leaven of the Pharisees was legalism and the leaven of Herod was materialism.  The former was the belief that you had to work your way to heaven, and the latter was the philosophy that you made your heaven on earth.    This is spiritual blindness, and even the disciples were somewhat still in the dark.

But, there came A SYMBOLICAL PROVISION (8:22-26).   In the healing of the blind man, there is an illustration of how God’s light can break into the darkness.

·         There is progression in spiritual insight.  This man didn’t receive his sight all at once.  When the light of truth dawns upon us—it isn’t like a light turning on in a dark room,  but as the sun coming up.  So, we are converted to know Christ, but then all of our Christian life is about coming to know Him more fully—to see more keenly (Phil.3:4-10).  There was a time when Paul was a blind Pharisee.  He had fully digested their leaven.  Then he saw the light and asked, “Who are you Lord?” After coming to faith, there was a desire for more light.  Peter exhorted, “Grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:18)

·         There is perfection in spiritual insight.  As this man came to see clearly, so would these disciples eventually.  Paul said in 1 Cor.13:12, “Now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face.  Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.”   Heaven will bring us into the fullness of the light of God’s glory and boundless enjoyment of His infinite Person!

DISPELLING THE DARKNESS OF DREAD

 

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.  (2 Timothy 1:7)

There is a darkness that can creep into the mind—a dread that lengthens as the evening shadows.  Deeper and darker it grows, until our soul is shrouded by it—what has been called, “the dark night of the soul.”  Hope seems to eclipsed.  Such feelings can overwhelm, and incapacitate us—if we yield to them.

We dare not!  We may be sure that if a spirit of fear has gripped us with its malevolent, icy fingers, that this is a spirit from Satan and not from God.  We may refuse it, resist it, and rebuke it by God’s grace—for what He has for us is power to sustain us in our difficulties, love to reassure us in our doubts, and a sound mind to focus us onward and upward against the distractions that dread places in our path.

There are going to be dark times to deal with—as sure as there is day, there will be night.  This world we live in is a dark and dreadful place.  Yet, consider the promise of God, “Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness; He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.”  (Psalm 112:4) 

There is this caveat, however—we must be gracious, compassionate, and righteous if we would walk in the light with Him who is the Light of the World.  Christ is all of that in perfection, and to walk with Him is to manifest this in progression.  The upright are those who stand erect—no hanging the head in despair, or sagging the shoulders in self-pity.  His spine is straight, and he steels himself against compromise of convictions.  He or she refuses to sit down and sulk—having a pity party—but stands up tall and walks ahead with fortitude.  The upright are not uptight.  The one who is upright will do right!

Such an upright man has three characteristics that mark him as one who reflects these qualities that stream from the Lord of Light.  He is gracious—brimful of God’s grace and being a channel dispensing the same to other weary souls.  He is compassionate—a deep and abiding care for others redirecting his thoughts from the problems he faces and focusing instead on the needs of others.  He will be righteous—a man of integrity, who doe the right thing.  With such, God is pleased to shine His light on to warm them, to cheer them, and to guide them.  He dispels the darkness of dread.

            Dear God,

You know the fear that arises in my mind, at times—the dread that can grip my heart in its darkness.  Drive it away!  Instead give me a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline—soundness of mind in a world gone mad.  Remind me that the darkest hour is just before the dawn.  Make me a man of grace, compassion, and righteousness so that Your light may bring the dawn of hope.  I bless You for Your grace abundant, compassion unfailing, and that You always do right!

I pray this in the Name of Christ, the Light of Life,

Amen!

DAWN OF A NEW DAY

 

But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.  (Proverbs 4:18)

God gives us light for our next step.  If we take it in faith and obedience, He gives more light.  As we mature spiritually, by walking in His light with Him, the path becomes brighter and the way clearer.  We come to recognize God’s leading—the path clearly distinguishable by our familiarity with it.  Best of all, we know that it ends in eternal Day—the brightness of God’s radiant glory, enveloping us in Heaven!

Today is the dawn of a new day of opportunity.  Did I take a detour into darkness yesterday and stumble in unbelief and rebellion?  God will forgive—if I repent—and set me on the right path today.  In a time of such darkness that befell a nation in rebellion against God, the Lord gave His prophet this shaft of light breaking through the clouds:

Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed,

Because His compassions fail not. 

They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.  (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Even if I have been unfaithful, I find God is faithful still.  His mercies are as a dam restraining the flood of His wrath that I merit.  This new day I am awake and alive with opportunity for a fresh start.  God is great and nowhere is this more evident than in the infinite glory of His grace toward me!

I can join with the Psalmist in affirming, “This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.”  (Ps.118:24)  Here I have a gift unwrapped—this special day, uniquely designed by God.  It is a day unlike any other day and will never be exactly replicated again.  I choose to begin this day with God!  In this day, I rejoice and am glad!

The hymn has been sung countless times, but let its message stir your soul again:

I come to the garden alone,
While the dew is still on the roses,
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.  (Charles A. Miles)

 

THE RESTORATION OF SALVATION’S HOPE

“Through the tender mercy of our God, With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:78-79)   

Helen Keller said, “The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.”  You can be walking around with 20/20 clarity physically, and be “blind as a bat” spiritually.  But, God’s Spirit speaks to us through His Word and our spiritual sight is restored.  We then can truthfully sing, “Once I was blind, but now I can see.” 

The words of Zacharias here point to THE NIGHT OF SIN, “To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.” (v.79)  Apart from Jesus, we are hopelessly, helplessly lost.  We are in the darkness of sin and on our way to outer darkness where there is weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth—the darkness of the second death.  This is the spiritual condition of all sinners, until their eyes our opened by the Gospel.

Zacharias has also spoken of THE LIGHT OF SALVATION, “Through the tender mercy of our God, With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us” (v.78).  What tender mercy God has in giving light in the darkness we deserve!  “Dayspring” means sunrise—metaphorically, the fountain from which daylight issues. 

Today could be the dawn of a new day for you!  No matter the past, and how dark the shadows you walked in—God offers you hope and the light of new life in Christ.  Can you recall a time when the Son rose in your heart?  If not, then this is the hour to bow before Him and enter the Kingdom of Light.

Sometimes, a shadow can creep over us as a child of God.  We can walk beneath an unclouded sky of fellowship with God, but foolishly choose to edge into the dusk of disobedience.  We are neither in the light, nor in the dark—just in shadows—not where we ought to be.  We have too much light to fully enjoy the pleasures of sin done in the dark places, but neither enough light to enjoy the warmth of full companionship with Christ.  Come out into the light!  Stop lurking in the twilight zone!

Some churches that God means to be a beacon of light, have allowed the light to be hidden through our detour down a dark alley of distraction, division or doctrinal deviation, and need a new day of revival to dawn.  The fire of first love must be restored!  The good news is that it can be.  Seek Christ, the One who walks among the lampstands of His churches (Rev.1:12-20).

Come to the light, ’tis shining for thee;

Sweetly the light has dawned upon me.

Once I was blind, but now I can see:

The Light of the world is Jesus!  (P.P. Bliss)

 

 

 

THE REVELATION OF SALVATION’S HOPE

Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people,  And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of His servant David, As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, Who have been since the world began, That we should be saved from our enemies And from the hand of all who hate us, To perform the mercy promised to our fathers And to remember His holy covenant, The oath which He swore to our father Abraham: To grant us that we, Being delivered from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.”  (Luke 1:67-75) 

Salvation is a result of the gracious activity of God.  He must take the initiative. Look at the verbs here: “visited” and “redeemed” (v.68); “raised up” (v.69); “spoke” (v.70); “saved” (v.71); “perform” and “remember” (v.72); “swore” (v.73); “delivered” (v.74).  God revealed the path of hope.  Had He not done so, we would have been blind—groping in the darkness, each step taking us nearer to the Abyss.

In Zacharias’ song, we hear THE SOURCE THAT IS REVEALED, “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people,” (v.68).   Remember that Zacharias is prophesying.  He is speaking of future events—yet speaking of them in past tense!  Such is the certainty of their fulfillment.  That surety is grounded in the unchanging character of God.  His Word cannot fail and His will cannot be thwarted.  Zacharias blesses the Lord for only the Lord can save us.  Without His grace we have no hope.  But, with that grace we have utter confidence in God’s power to preserve us.

Another great Gospel truth contained in these lyrics of life is THE STRENGTH THAT IS REVEALED.

And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of His servant David, As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, Who have been since the world began, That we should be saved from our enemies And from the hand of all who hate us, To perform the mercy promised to our fathers And to remember His holy covenant, The oath which He swore to our father Abraham: To grant us that we, Being delivered from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear… (Luke 1:69-74). 

In the ancient world, the horns of an animal symbolized its strength.  God raised up a horn of salvation when He raised up His Son on the cross.  He manifested that further when He raised Him up from the grave.  All that the prophets foretold was fulfilled in Him.  The enemy was too strong for us (v.74),  but he is no match for God!  The King of Terror is beaten!

The Spirit of God had more to say in this song about THE SERVICE THAT IS REVEALED, “To grant us that we, Being delivered from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.” (v.74-75)  God didn’t save us to put us in a trophy case and make us ornamental; He saved us to put us in His tool chest and make us instrumental!  There is a freedom from fear when we serve Him with abandon!  Our life testifies to the reality of God’s saving work in us, “holiness and righteousness before Him.”  Grace alone accomplishes this in us and through us.

The whole world was lost in the darkness of sin,

The Light of the world is Jesus! 

Like sunshine at noonday, His glory shone in;

The Light of the world is Jesus! 

Come to the light, ’tis shining for thee;

Sweetly the light has dawned upon me;

Once I was blind, but now I can see:

The Light of the world is Jesus!” (P.P. Bliss) 

 

 

THE HOPE OF SALVATION

The hymn writer had it right:

The whole world was lost in the darkness of sin,

The Light of the world is Jesus! 

Like sunshine at noonday, His glory shone in;

The Light of the world is Jesus! 

Come to the light, ’tis shining for thee;

Sweetly the light has dawned upon me;

Once I was blind, but now I can see:

The Light of the world is Jesus!” (P.P. Bliss) 

 That light of hope was about to dawn in the arrival of the Savior.  That dawn would be preceded by six months in the birth of His forerunner, John the Baptist.

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, To give knowledge of salvation to His people By the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God, With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:76-79) 

Zacharias had been mute because of his unbelief.  The angel Gabriel had told the old priest that he would be a daddy for the first time—and he wouldn’t believe it.  So, he was made mute as a discipline on his doubt.  Nine months later, the little one enters the world and when they want to name him, Zach Junior, his Pop writes that he is to be called John.

Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son.  When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her.  So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias.  His mother answered and said, “No; he shall be called John.”  But they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.”  So they made signs to his father—what he would have him called.  And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, “His name is John.” So they all marveled.  Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God.  Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea.  And all those who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying, “What kind of child will this be?” And the hand of the Lord was with him.  Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:  (Luke 1:57-67). 

Now, the old man’s tongue is loose and he not only speaks, but he sings a song of salvation!  It is a prophetic psalm.  While I can’t name the tune, we can study the text—and that we will do this week in considering this hymn of hope—the hope of salvation!

HOPE RETURNS

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.  And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.  But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.  So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.  And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense.  Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.  And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.  But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.  And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.  For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.  And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.  He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”  (Luke 1:5-17)

They say the darkest hour is just before the dawn.  That was the condition of the nation of Israel 2,000 years ago.  For 400 years they had been in the dark—without a word from God.  The last prophet, Malachi, had been silent for four long centuries.  This despite the promise, “The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings” (4:2a). 

That new day was about to dawn.  Reading Luke 1:5-25, we will see the light of truth peek over the horizon.  As the sun returns to the sky after the darkness of night, so hope would return with a fresh word from God.  A new prophet was on the way—John the Baptist—to herald the coming of the Light of the World—Jesus Christ!

Let your day begin by coming to His light.  Listen to His voice as you read His Book.  Thank Him that you are no longer in the dark, and heaven is no more silent!