Tags
2 Corinthians 4:1-7, 2 Corinthians 4:8-10, Behold the Lamb of God, Called To Follow Jesus!, Choose Wisely--there is a test!, Christmas IS Jesus, I am the light of the world, Jesus Saves!, Jesus takes away the sin of the world, John 10:27-30, John 1:29-34, John 3:16-19, John 9:5, Matthew 1:21-23, Philippians 2:15, The light of Jesus in me
Bible Ballistics: Vol. 19 No. 23 Do You Have THE Christmas Light?
“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying,
I am the light of the world:
he that followeth me
shall not walk in darkness,
but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12
I love the lights of Christmas–the shining lights, the twinkling lights, just the lights that shine in the darkness; yet there is THE true Light of the world–and HIS name is JESUS! And without “this” light, you will ever be walking in darkness, even as John the Apostle wrote in the beginning of his gospel record.
“In the beginning was
the Word,
and the Word
was with God,
and the Word
was God.
2 The same was in the beginning
with God.
3 All things were made
by him;
and without him
was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him
was life;
and the life
was the light of men.
5 And the light
shineth in darkness;
and the darkness
comprehended it not.” John 1:1-5
John the Baptizer declared openly and plainly that Jesus was not only the “light” of men, but the one who would take care of the sin problem, just as the angel had spoken to Joseph about taking Mary.
“And she shall bring forth a son,
and thou shalt call his name JESUS:
for he shall save his people
from their sins.
22 Now all this was done,
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken
of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child,
and shall bring forth a son,
and they shall call his name Emmanuel,
which being interpreted is,
God with us.” Matthew 1:21-23
And John’s account of his encounter with Jesus.
“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him,
and saith,
Behold the Lamb of God,
which taketh away
the sin of the world.
30 This is he of whom I said,
After me cometh a man
which is preferred before me:
for he was before me.
31 And I knew him not:
but that he should be made manifest to Israel,
therefore am I come baptizing with water.
32 And John bare record, saying,
I saw the Spirit descending from heaven
like a dove,
and it abode upon him.
33 And I knew him not:
but he that sent me to baptize with water,
the same said unto me,
Upon whom thou shalt see
the Spirit descending,
and remaining on him,
the same is he which baptizeth
with the Holy Ghost.
34 And I saw,
and bare record
that this is
the Son of God.” John 1:29-34
Jesus, this light of the world, made some claims that we need to consider, not only this time of year, but every day. It is one of the things that set God’s children apart from the darkness of this world!
“I must work the works
of him that sent me,
while it is day:
the night cometh,
when no man can work.
5 As long as I am in the world,
I am the light of the world.” John 9:5
Jesus went on to make clear His deity; which many claim He never did–but Jesus clearly proclaimed His oneness with God!
“My sheep hear my voice,
and I know them,
and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them
eternal life;
and they shall never perish,
neither shall any man
pluck them
out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me,
is greater than all;
and no man is able to pluck them
out of my Father’s hand.
30 I and my Father are one.” John 10:27-30
So, to make it simple, you must choose the light or reject it. I don’t care how many “Christmas lights” you hang around your house, if you don’t have the “light of the world”, you are in darkness!
Paul gives us some insight into this truth:
“Therefore seeing we have this ministry,
as we have received mercy,
we faint not;
2 But have renounced the hidden things
of dishonesty,
not walking in craftiness,
nor handling the word of God deceitfully;
but by manifestation of the truth
commending ourselves to every man’s conscience
in the sight of God.
But if our gospel be hid,
it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom 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.
5 For we preach not ourselves,
but Christ Jesus the Lord;
and ourselves
your servants
for Jesus’ sake.
6 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.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels,
that the excellency of the power
may be of God,
and not of us.” 2 Corinthians 4:1-7
And the beauty of this light is the hope, confidence, and joy that it puts in my heart regardless of the circumstances.
“We are troubled on every side,
yet not distressed;
we are perplexed,
but not in despair;
9 Persecuted,
but not forsaken;
cast down,
but not destroyed;
10 Always bearing about in the body
the dying of the Lord Jesus,
that the life also of Jesus
might be made manifest
in our body.” 2 Corinthians 4:8-10
So, the question resounds, do you have the light of Jesus? We have the freedom to choose “The Light of the world”, or we can refuse His love and sacrifice for us. It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test. Do you know “the light of the world”? If not, I pray that you will call upon HIM today. If you know Him already, be sure your light is shining!
“That ye may be blameless and harmless,
the sons of God,
without rebuke,
in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation,
among whom ye shine
as lights in the world;” Philippians 2:15
And Jesus’ own message:
“For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish,
but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son
into the world
to condemn the world;
but that the world through him
might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him
is not condemned:
but he that believeth not
is condemned already,
because he hath not believed
in the name of the only begotten
Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation,
that light is come into the world,
and men loved darkness
rather than light,
because their deeds were evil.” John 3:16-19
Amen and Amen!!!
Bible Ballistics 