WHEN THERE IS LIGHT!

Robert Fulgham, a writer, told the story of one of his professors, a man named Alexander Papaderos, who once taught Fulgham a two-week course on Greek culture. Towards the end of the last session, he gave opportunity for questions from his students. Fulgham boldly asked, "Dr. Papaderos, what is the meaning of life?" After a few moments Papaderos pulled his wallet from his pocket, removed a tiny, quarter-sized mirror, and replied: "When I was a small child, during the war, we were very poor and lived in a remote village. One day, on the road, I found a broken piece of a mirror. A German motorcycle had been wrecked in that place. I tried to find all the pieces and put them together, but it was impossible. So I kept only the largest piece: this one. And by scratching it on a stone, I made it round. I began to play with it as a toy and became fascinated by the fact that I could reflect LIGHT INTO DARK PLACES where the sun would never shine, in deep holes and crevices and dark closets. It became a game for me to get LIGHT into the very most in-accessible places I could find. I kept this little mirror, and as I was growing up, I would take it out in idle moments and continue the challenge of the game. As I became a man, I grew to understand that this is not just a child's game but a metaphor for what I might do with my life. I came to under- stand that I am not the light or the source of light. But the truth is that light brings understanding and knowledge, and it will only shine in dark places if I reflect it. The meaning of life is to reflect the light of God in dark places." So, in this blog, I want to emphasize that truth . . . LIGHT TRULY MAKES THE DIFFERENCE! Let's flee spiritual darkness and run into spiritual Light!

"This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all" (I John 1:5). I want us to seriously consider LIGHT, especially the Light of God! Bet we also have to consider darkness, the existence of evil, the maker and sustainer of evil (the devil himself) and our personal spiritual darkness.

Do you know what comes first in the Bible, day or night, light or darkness? The night came first and then the day; darkness first and then light! Aren't we thankful that the night or darkness is never the end? It is just the beginning. The darkness must always yield to the dawn; the darkness always gives way to the light! One time years ago, my wife and I were on a trip and we decided to take a guided tour through some caverns. Deep in the caverns, surrounded by lamps giving light to our walk, the guide stopped the group of tourists and turned out the lights. It was then as dark as dark can be; we could see nothing at all, not even our hand in front of our face. After a few minutes, the guide turned the lights back on and it overwhelmed that darkness! We were very happy to experience the reality of WHEN THERE IS LIGHT!

One of the very first things we learn in the Bible, at the beginning of the first chapter of the first book (Genesis 1:2-5), is that the first thing that God created is LIGHT. ALL of His creation reflects Him and the Scripture says that "God is Light." In Psalm 104, we read, "Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty, covering Yourself with light as a garment. . . ." (Psalm 104:1 & 2).

God's light is often said to be our salvation and our very life! In Psalm, chapter 27, the Psalmist declares, "The Lord is my light and my salvation." Again, Psalm chapter 36 tells us "In Your light do we see light." God's words are often spoken of as light! "For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light" (Proverbs 6:23). Again, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105). In Psalm 119:130 we find this, "The unfolding of Your words gives light." The Prophet Isaiah said, the Servant of the Lord (Christ) would be given as "a light to the nations" (49:6). Simeon, when Jesus' parents brought Him to the temple, as he held the baby Jesus in his arms for blessing, said "for my eyes have seen Your salvation that You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel" (Luke 2:30-32). And of course, the Apostle John began his Gospel with this truth, "In Him (Jesus) was life, and the life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" (John 1:5). Jesus said of himself, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12).

Lessons for us to know and understand about WHEN THERE IS LIGHT:

1) THE DARKNESS IS EXPOSED! The Bible equates darkness with sin, evil and unrighteousness. For example, "And this is the condemnation: that Light (Jesus) has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil" (John 3:19). Satan is the maker and sustainer of evil. The devil (satan) is the primary antagonist (enemy) of God and of humanity, he is referred to in Scripture as "the evil one" or "the adversary". ". . .for the whole world lies in the power of the evil one" (I John 5:19). But because of Jesus and His life, death, and resurrection, satan and all his evil works, schemes, and rebellious acts can no longer be hidden; he is fully and deliberately exposed! The Scripture clearly tells us who God is, what He is like and what He does, AND it also fully decribes the devil and exposes all his evil ways, motives and desires. Because of God's Word we know satan, who he is and what he does. His darkness is exposed!

2) THE DARKNESS IS EXPELLED! Light and darkness cannot co-exist. Darkness cannot extinguish light, but light can and does extinguish darkness. Martin Luther King Jr. said, "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that." The Psalmist reminded us, "For it is You who light my lamp, the LORD my God lights up my darkness" (Psalm 18:28). The Prophet Isaiah quoted God saying, . . .I will turn the darkness into light before them. . . ." (Isaiah 42:16). In the New Testament, we have these words, "Because of God's tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. . . ." (Luke 1:78-79). We find Jesus saying, "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should stay in darkness" (John 12:46). Again He said, "The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadows, a light has shined" (Matthew 4:16). When there is light, darkness is driven out - expelled!

3) THE DARKNESS IS DEFEATED! As Jesus said, we do not have to "stay or remain in darkness"! "For though once your heart was full of darkness, now it is full of light from the Lord, and your behavior should show it" (Ephesians 5:8). Again, "For God, Who said, 'Let there be light in the darkness' (at creation) has made this light shine in out hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ" (II Corinthians 4:6).

In closing, I want to strongly encourage you to recognize that spiritual light has come to you in the Person and Work of Jesus Christ! You can know Him personally this very day and even right now at this moment! Please don't turn Him away and please do not remain in the darkness; it has eternal consequences. This brings to my mind some words of a beautiful hymn:

   "Out of my bondage, sorrow and night, Jesus I come, Jesus I come;

    Into Thy freedom, gladness and Light, Jesus I come to Thee."

Trusting Jesus with your life, confessing sin, moving out of darkness into His marvelous light has the blessings of eternal life in heaven; to be with God forever is your hope and peace! Let's cry out to God in repentance and faith, because HE IS THE ONLY WAY OUT OF THIS LIFE "ALIVE"!