LIVING IN THE LIGHT

John 1:9 “The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.”

Helen Keller told a story of a dramatic moment when Anne Sullivan first broke through her dark, silent world with the illumination of language:

“We walked down the path to the well house, attracted by the fragrance of the honeysuckle with which it was covered. Some one was drawing water and my teacher placed my hand under the spout. As the cool stream gushed over one hand she spelled into the other the word water, first slowly, then rapidly. I stood still, my whole attention fixed upon the motion of her fingers. Suddenly I felt a misty consciousness as of something forgotten—a thrill of returning thought; and somehow the mystery of language was revealed to me. I knew then that “w-a-t-e-r” meant that wonderful cool something that was flowing over my hand. That living word awakened my soul, gave it light, hope, joy, set it free!”

The moment Helen Keller described is that moment her world of darkness was shattered with the light of language. Although she was the same person physically, her life was transformed. She now had a way she could see and understand.

Spiritually speaking, people are living in a world of darkness. In the 1970’s Simon and Garfunkel produced a song entitled The Sound of Silence: “Hello darkness, my old friend, I’ve come to talk with you again.” This is an accurate description of the way many people feel today—they are living in spiritual darkness. They are in need of spiritual illumination, a divine light.

According to John’s gospel, Jesus is the light of the world. If you look in the dictionary, the first definition for “light” is “something that makes vision possible.” In other words, light makes it possible for us to see. Without light, we are hopelessly blind - blind to our surroundings, blind to our situations and circumstances, blind to even ourselves. Light makes it possible for us to see clearly – things as they really are.

Through Christ, we now know and understand we are created by a God who loves us and wants a relationship with us. We now know and understand that our sin and rebellion has severed our relationship with our God. We now know and understand that we can regain that relationship now and forever through Christ Jesus. We now know right from wrong. We now know and understand the marvelous place prepared for those who strive to walk in his light and the terrible destiny of those who reject the true light.

We learn in grade school that without sunshine there would be no life possible on earth. The sun provides the basis for all life on earth. The sun is the source of energy for all plants, and indirectly, for all animals. Take away the sunlight and all life on earth would soon perish. Sunlight sustains our lives not only due to the energy it gives us in our food but also because it helps our body synthesize vitamins. Too, it brings vitality to our red and white blood cells. Shut up the strongest man in a dark dungeon and he becomes pale like a corpse, loses physical vigor and strength, loses the power to resist disease and he will waste away.

Spiritual life can be found in none other than in Christ. Just as he is the giver of all physical life so he is the provider of spiritual life. He is life itself. He proclaims in John 14:6, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through me.”

Are you walking in the light? The light of God’s love for you? Remember that those who follow Christ are following light and will not exist in darkness. Let his light illuminate your path and see life in a whole new way.