For months verses about “Light” have been jumping out at me. I want to do a brief series about them. Consider this the first installment of my musings and reflections on the power of Light in the world. In us.

 

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. – John 1:5

A well-meaning person once taught me to stay away from “sinners.” To not be in relationship with those who don’t know Jesus. “You are light,” she said, “and they are darkness. If you draw near to them, their darkness will invade your light.”

It didn’t sit well with me, but I trusted her. Something somehow seemed off, but I wasn’t Bible literate enough to correct her.

Then, I had the honor of hearing Vernon Grounds speak at Denver Seminary. Unfortunately, I don’t remember much of his message, but I do remember him quoting John 1:5. He deferentially turned to the head of Denver Seminary’s New Testament department, Dr. Craig Blomberg, and said, “Correct me if I’m wrong Craig, but I believe a good understanding of this verse is ‘The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot comprehend it.’”

Craig nodded.

There is something so great, so majestic, so awesome about the Light that darkness can’t understand, can’t grasp, can’t even chip away at it.

Darkness has nothing over the Light.

What and who is this Light? The Light is Jesus. And if we believe in Him, His Light lives in us, so that we become light.

You are the light of the world. -Matthew 5:14

In Him, we are Light.

As Light, the darkness cannot penetrate us, cannot consume us, cannot overcome us. As a flashlight breaks through a dark night, Light displaces the darkness of the world. Light breaks through and creates something where there was once nothing. And that something is good.

The darkness cannot comprehend you.

The darkness cannot understand you. The forces of darkness will try to break you down, chew you up, destroy you. It cannot fathom why you have hope or should continue on in this broken world full of the death and destruction darkness wields.

But you can stand firm, not because of you, but because in Jesus you have become Light.

And the darkness has not – cannot overcome that Light.

Be encouraged, friends. Whatever your struggle, whatever your concern, whatever your fear, the Light is with you, in you, living through you. I pray that the Lord Jesus would reveal Himself to you so that you may not be shaken, but shine bright.