The Gospel of John begins by explaining to the reader who Jesus was and is. We are told that He was there (where is there exactly?) at the beginning with God and that He is God. Jesus is also given the title of Creator of the Universe. The main phrase that I want to take a look at is Jesus being the TRUE light of the world. This is what John says,
”In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent form God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world” (John 1:5-9).
The world offers a buffet of belief systems for you to choose from. There are many paths to take concerning your future, faith, and following. There are many torches you can grab, candles you can follow, lights that you can look up to, but are they true? Are they trust-worthy? The writer emphasizes that John the Baptist was NOT that light, but he came to bear witnes OF the light. One could have easily chosen to follow John the Baptist, but they would have been following a false light because he was not Jesus.
Society might teach that whatever light you desire to follow is your true light, but what does Christ, the creator and savior of the earth, say about such teachings? He boldly stated that He is ”the way, the truth, and the life...” If I choose to grab hold of another teaching that is not the gospel, another way of life that is not biblical, or another means of peace and comfort that does not come from God, then I am clinging to an artifical light that is not Christ. I can carry a flashlight into a dark forest, but is it as bright and useful as the sun’s rays? I can drive down the road at midnight with my headlights on and the streetlamps above, but is it as clear as the day? Can you recieve the appropirate amount of vitamin D from UV light bulbs as you can the sun? Absolutly not! False lights may provide you with a small victory, a temporary fix, or a bit of direction, but is it direction that you can trust?
We have many options in this diverse country. Many of our friends, coworkers, and employers are following different lights, but many are not following the true light. Their paths could be lit from a source that will only lead them to destruction (Matthew 7:13). Since Jesus is the true light, you can trust that He is illuminating a true path.
Psalm 40:2 says, “He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.”
The path that one is taking before trusting Christ for salvation and following Him is one that consists of miry bog and destruction. False lights will paint a desirable path, but will only leave you stranded in the dark. They will lead you to a miry destination that only God, the true light, can pull you from.
On the other hand, God’s true light provides true direction. ”In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Proverbs 3:6).
”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” (1 John 1:5).
I urge you to let go of the false illumination that is offered by so many and walk in the light of God’s Word. He will pull you out of the mud, set you on the rock, and set you on a path that you can trust!
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