Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” — John 3:18-21 ESV
Jesus came as the light. Some loved Him, some hated Him. Now we are light. He made us that way. The question is, will we walk that way? It matters.
Many years ago, I had the opportunity to visit a young man in jail. He was awaiting trial on a number of quite serious charges related to some domestic incidents. He was a rough character—foul-mouthed and tattooed. When I told him that I knew his mom, he went on a lengthy tirade about hypocrites and judgmental Christians. He was hurt and mad about it.
As the end of our visitation time drew near, I finally interrupted him.
“Look, in the end it doesn’t matter what someone else did or didn’t do. They will have to answer for that. Do you believe that Jesus died for you?”
After a moment of tense silence, he tearfully replied, “Yes.”
“Then what are you gonna do about Jesus?”
As the officer came to get him, we prayed and he asked the Lord into his life. Thirty years later he’s still serving the Lord, and he’s still my friend.
The central question of every life is simply, “What are you gonna do with Jesus?”
Jesus said, “the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light.” In a world of darkness, Jesus came as the light. Each of us responds to that light by either coming to it or running from it. That is the judgment.
Jesus was very plain: “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). But He also implied that He would only be shining here for a little while: “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (John 9:5).
As the day of His crucifixion approached, He gave some cryptic advice that gave a portent of what was about to happen: “While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light” (John 12:36). He was about to leave, but those who believed on Him would become light.
Light is still the judgment. And that’s us. Though the world is still a very dark place, Jesus left the church here to provide a shining choice. Without the church, the darkness prevails and precious souls face eternity without Christ. The question is, are we shining or are we just singing about it on Sunday morning? “This little light of mine…”
What It Means to Shine
- “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
One of the ways the church shines is through doing good things for other people. One of the primary tools of evangelism in the early church was taking care of the sick and feeding the poor. In some places they adopted babies that had been abandoned. You get the point. Do good stuff and don’t be shy about letting people know you did it!
- “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” John 14:12-13
Jesus said they should believe Him because of the works He did. He was talking about signs and wonders—healing, deliverance, and the like. We are commissioned to do the same works. If we do, they will inspire the same response: some will believe, some will want to crucify us.
- “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” Ephesians 5:6-8
It matters how we live. The enemy uses the failures of the church to blind the eyes of those who are still in darkness. The “these things” Paul was talking about were sexual sin and greed. How much has the diabolical duo of lust and avarice tarnished the shine on the Church in our time? Oh my!
We are the light. If the church doesn’t shine, the world has no way of seeing. Don’t ever think that how you live doesn’t matter. Your works, both good and bad, impact eternity. Somebody is looking for light. You are light. Walk bright and don’t dim it by living like the darkness.
As Paul said to the church at Ephesus, “Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light” (Ephesians 5:14 KJV).
— Pastor Virgil
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