Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” John 8:12

I’m seated here this morning with the light of day streaming in through the windows. There are presently no other sources of light in the room except for the artificial light of the screen on my lap top computer. It is amazing how my eye is drawn to the light shining through the window. As I look toward that light I see the creation on display, pale blue sky, shimmering birch leaves, deep green redwood trees, all illuminated by the bright sun. The light awakens my eyes to see. The light provides opportunity to notice what shadow and darkness keep concealed. My eyes are drawn to the light when I’m in a dark place. At times the brightness of the light is painful to my eyes, especially when I first come out of the darkness. But the light helps me to see. The lenses of my eyes are designed to find whatever light available to enable sight. I am drawn to the light, it’s illumination, it’s warmth, its brilliance. The truth is I function better when the light is available.

My dad, who was a surgeon, always commented on how amazing the light in the operating room was. He said that it was hard to notice the natural weakening of the eyes that occurs with age, because the light was so incredibly good. The brilliant lights of the operating room made up for whatever was deficient in his eyesight. In many respects Jesus, who is the light of the world, helps us to see the life eternal available to us. His light makes up for the deficiencies of our spiritual sight and aids us in seeing the life awaiting us in relationship to Him. His light is the light of life, but it is the life that can’t be seen apart from His light of revelation. The deficiencies of my sin and brokenness have impaired my ability to see the truth of God’s greatness; His love, His mercy and His goodness. But Jesus illuminates and reveals the truth found in His own life. He sheds a light that overcomes the darkness of my heart.

I am forever in need of this light of life from Jesus. I am in need of holy illumination to reveal to me the darkness of my own heart and the brilliance of God’s own character. I need the light of Jesus to go before me providing direction and guidance. I need the light of Jesus to illumine the path so that I might stay the course and avoid the stumbling blocks of temptation. I need the light of Jesus to warm the seeds of His Word implanted in my soul to further fruitful growth. I am in need of the light of life, Jesus.

Jesus promises that in following Him I will have the light of life. Part of the challenge is to trust that, even in the darkest of moments, the light of Jesus still accompanies me, though I may not have the capacity to see it. There are plenty of opportunities to see my faith deepen and grow in His accompanying light. My responsibility is not to try to manufacture light, but to trust that the light provided in the moment is there, and is the light I need in that moment. Since John 1:5 indicates that the darkness cannot overcome the light of Jesus, then the darkness in which I find myself cannot extinguish or compromise the light present in the life of Jesus. I may need to pause and allow my eyes to adjust a bit in those dark places, but I will discover that His light is there as well. It is that light from Jesus, casting it’s beam on the step directly in front of me. It is His light at low intensity that keeps me close to and dependent upon Him, rather than running off ahead. And the light He gives will continue to bring the direction, guidance, warmth and illumination I so desperately need.

This day, may the light of the world illuminate and reveal to you the truth of your own heart and the truth of the unfailing love and generous grace of Jesus to accompany you into the eternal life He has for you. May your life be drawn ever more closely to Him as the light of life that shines in the darkness.