John 8:12 – “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light
of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have
the light of life.”
A poor little boy once heard his Sunday School teacher say
Jesus was the light of the world. He took her remark quite literally. After
class, the boy said to his teacher, "If Jesus really is the light of the
world, I wish He'd come hang out in my alley. It's awful dark where I
live."
Oh, the innocence of child-like faith. But, as Christ Himself said in Matthew 21:16,
“Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings
thou hast perfected praise.” This
simple illustration shows how Christ, the Light of the world can come into a dark
world and permeate every corner with the light of His blessed salvation. In the Scriptures, darkness is a picture of
spiritual blindness, human sin through which man tends to separate himself from
God.
The apostle John tells us in John 1:9, speaking of Christ, “That was the true Light, which lighteth
every man that cometh into the world.”
But man persistently refuses to believe – refuses to follow – refuses to
see or understand the light. John 3:19 tells us, "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." Again, John 1:5 says, “And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it
not.”
But
Christ tells Nicodemus in John 3:21, “But
he that doeth truth, cometh to the light.”
And because of Christ’s finished work at Calvary ,
those who come to the Light, “whosoever
believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).”
The Light of the World
I am the Light of the world, He said,
I light the way in the night.
And any who wish the darkness to leave
Must follow me into the light.
But men, in their natural fleshly state,
Would rather in darkness stay,
For they love the darkness rather than light,
Which illumines their evil way.
I am the Light of the world, He said,
Through which man’s life is made whole.
My light shines bright from Calvary ’s
cross –
Illuminates man’s sinful soul.
It searches out every corner so dark
And brings to light all evil deeds.
It permeates every inch of his heart
And satisfies all of man’s needs.
I am the Light of the world, He said,
The Light from which no man can hide.
Why do you continue to walk in the world,
When with me you ought to abide?
Walk in the light as I do, He says,
My fellowship you can enjoy.
My blood shall have cleansed your heart of all sin,
And my grace in your life I’ll employ.
© 2006 Paul Stultz
"Lord, Help us to worship you as the light - help us to shine your light through our lives - help us to reflect your glory in all we do. Amen."
