On Being the Light*

      We have just completed Hanukkah, which is also called the Festival of Lights and the Feast of Dedication. We have discussed the terrible events occurring around the world, including the war in the Middle East. We see the signs of the end times and Christ's return around us, such as the lining up of the nations against Israel prophesied in Ezek. 38. However, in this dark time, we are called to be the light by Jesus: "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Mt. 5:14-16). This is how Jesus described the delicacy of the light in us: "The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single (meaning fulfilling its purpose), thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness?" (Mt. 6:22-23). Our purpose in Christ is to be the light.

     The light that is Christ is the basis of life and it is the power over spiritual darkness since the beginning of creation: "In him (the Word of God, which is Jesus) was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness (skotia - includes: ignorance of divine things and its associated wickedness, and the resulting misery in hell) comprehended (katalambano - to seize, lay hold of with the mind, take possession of) it not." (Jn. 1:4-5). This darkness, including the cares of this world, takes over the mind. Christ is the true light that lights every man that comes into the world, and He made the world, even if the world did not know or receive Him - even if His own people did not receive Him (v. 9-11). The opportunity for the light of life and salvation is meant for everyone. God wants all to come to repentance. However, for those who did receive Jesus Christ, the Light: "...to them he gave power (authority and privilege) to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name...and the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."  (v. 12, 14). It is an awesome thing to be the light, the sons of God, the beholders His glory. Much of the church is missing this. They are trying to do godly things with worldly means, instead of displaying light in a dark world.

     The birth of Christ (and His birth in our hearts) is: "Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring (meaning the rising of light) from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." (Lk. 1:78-79, see also Isa. 9:1-2). The consequences of sin is death, but a light has shined in that darkness. He is a light to guide us. 

     Shortly after His birth, the baby Jesus was brought to Jerusalem so His mother could offer a sacrifice according to the law of Moses. A devout man, Simeon, had been awaiting the birth of the Messiah, because the Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would see the Messiah, the consolation of Israel, before he died. The Spirit brought Simeon into the temple where he saw the child, Jesus, (Hebrew name Yehoshua/Yeshua meaning "salvation") with His parents. Simeon took the child in his arms and blessed God, saying: "Lord, now lettest thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel." (Lk. 2:25-32).

     The LORD who created earth, and gave breath and spirit to the people upon it declared: "I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; to open blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house." (Isa. 42:5-7). This is what Jesus read as part of His synagogue reading, and He announced that it had been fulfilled. In another section of Isaiah, the prophet wrote of the Messiah to come: "...yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD...." and "...my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation (Hebrew name of Jesus) unto the ends of the earth." (Isa. 49:5-6). It is always God's intention to preserve Israel. Again, Isaiah prophesies a light coming to the Gentiles, as well as the future glory of Zion: "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising." (Isa. 60:1-3). As light accompanied Jesus at His birth, His rising from the dead also was accompanied by light and glory. Are we drawing Gentiles with our light, and Israel with the glory that Christ has given us? (see Jn. 17:22).

     Jesus warned us to do the works of light while it is "day", because "night" is coming when no man can work. He said, "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." (Jn. 9:1-5). This period of night and darkness that is coming - could it be when the believers, as the light of Christ, are removed from the earth in the Rapture? Jesus also said, "Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you...believe in the light, that ye may be children of light." (Jn. 12:32-36, see also 1 John 1:5-7). Jesus is light because God, who sent Him is light. Walk in this light. It was the light of Christ, a light greater than the sun, that Saul first saw on the Road to Damascus that saved him, and called him to his purpose as Paul, a minister of the Gospel to the Gentiles, as Jesus said to him: "To open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me." (Acts 26:13-18).

     Again, Paul wrote: "For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light...And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them....Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." (Eph. 5:8-14, excerpt). Walk in the light of the resurrection of Christ, and reprove the works of darkness. As we read earlier - in Him was the life and the light of life. 

     Even the coming day of the Lord is not for the children of night and darkness to know, but for the children of light and the day: "For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thess. 5:4-9). Let us light our lamps as the wise did in Jesus' parable. Christ is not coming as a thief in the night to the children of day and light. Luke told us to watch and pray. Be that light! We are called to be living stones, being built up into a spiritual house. We are to be different than those who do not believe: "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy." (1 Pet. 2:1-10, excerpt). Peter also wrote that our walk and manner of life is to reflect that light, and not fleshly lusts. (v. 11-12). It is a privilege to become the sons of God, leading others to light and glory as we walk in light and glory. I want the people of God to be the light. We walk in the light as we walk in 2 Chron. 7:14, seeking His face of light, which is the only thing that can save America.

     Regarding those who are lost: "...the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them....For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Cor. 4:3-6). There is light in the face of Jesus Christ. They must have had the opportunity to see that face of light. We have that face on the Shroud of Turin, created by a process of light, as in the light of resurrection, in a photographic negative image. 

     The world may try to hold the unbelievers in spiritual blindness, as Paul wrote, but Christ the Messiah came to open the spiritually blinded eyes. Let them see the light of the glorious Gospel, and be set free from sin, death and the grave.

      *Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson, Jr.'s 12/17/23 message to the church. If you would like to hear the complete message, you can find it on Dr. Stevenson's Facebook page. To contact or support this ministry, you can write to PO Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705.