The “true light” is Jesus Christ. He “enlightens every man,” which means that everyone has the potential to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior (John 1:9). “The light has come into the world;” the problem is that men love “darkness rather than the light” (John 3:19). The light exposes the deeds of men, and he “who does evil hates the light” (John 3:20). The one who desires to practice the truth will come to the light.

The light of Christ must penetrate this darkness. Jesus came “as light into the world” to dispel the darkness (John 12:46). He came to reveal the truth about God. The life of Jesus reveals the light that He brought into the world. His words are light, because they expose the darkness in men’s hearts and show the true way to God.

Men live in darkness and need light. Because of sin, men are spiritually dead and must come alive. Jesus said that “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). There are not many ways to God, only one — Jesus. Jesus said that “I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).

The Word of God shows man that “the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4). God is the only one who can shine in man’s heart “to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).

“While I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (John 9:5). Jesus knew that men soon would seek to “snuff out” the light. “For a little while longer the light is among you. Walk while you have the light, that darkness may not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. While you have the light, believe in the light, in order that you may become the sons of light” (John 12:35-36).
Jesus wanted everyone to understand that “I have come as light into the world, that everyone who believes in Me may not remain in darkness” (John 12:46).

After receiving the truth, repenting of sin and believing that the Lord Jesus Christ truly is the light of the world, that individual is “delivered… from the domain of darkness” (Colossians 1:13). Jesus now tells that “born-again” one that “you are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). The Christian is “not in darkness… you are all sons of light” (1 Thessalonians 5:4). As God’s children, each believer must “let your light shine before men” (Matthew 5:16) and “speak in the light (Matthew 10:27). How imperative it is to follow the example of Jesus Christ. “You were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of Light” (Ephesians 5:8).

Before this crooked and perverse world, the children of God “appear as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15). By sharing God’s Word, the believer shows that “nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it should come to light” (Mark 4:22). The children of light are sent with the Gospel to open the eyes of the unbelieving, “so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the domain of Satan to God, in order that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith” (Acts 26:18). Are you a child of light or still a child of darkness? The choice is yours.

Rob Zapotoski