JOHN 12:44-46 LIVING IN THE LIGHT

44 Then Jesus cried out, “When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. 45 When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

John has Jesus end the public teaching phase of his life with a summary statement. “I am the fullest revelation of God in word and deed. God sent me so that you could see, know and be saved.” God’s purpose, his method and his desired response of man are clearly stated.

With such a revelation there is no excuse for people to remain agnostic. When you walk into a room for the first time without the lights being on you can see nothing, and therefore, can know nothing about that room. But when the lights are turned on all is made available to you through sight. The only way you can remain in the state of ignorance is to quickly shut your eyes and refuse to see. Once you shut your eyes it is no longer a case of not knowing, but is now the active choice of deciding not to know. With the advent of the light we are faced with only two options; to see or to refuse to see.

Jesus came into the world as the light of the world. We no longer have to grope around in our darkness trying to find our purpose and meaning, and how to properly live our lives. Through Jesus it has been revealed to us. So, why is it that we still bump into the furniture, walk into the walls and trip over each other? Could it be that there are still aspects of Jesus’ revelation to which our eyes remain closed? His light shines into every corner, every crevice, of this life. If we are to “see” we must choose to open our eyes even in those places in our lives where, frankly, we might not really want to see.

Shine into my life, Lord Jesus, and through your Spirit help me to open my eyes to your revealing light. Convict me of the areas in my life that are controlled by unbelief and empower me to confess them, open my eyes to the truth and choose to align my life with your will. Amen.