Are You in the Light?

Today's devotional is on John 1.

This chapter speaks of "the Word".  In the Greek it is the "Logos", and to those living in that area at that time, who were somewhat familiar with Greek thought and philosophy, the Logos did not mean just a spoken or written word.  To those who spoke Greek and lived in that culture, the Logos meant something to the effect of "The perfect idea, thought, expression, and communication".  So John begins by showing that this that this perfect expression of God was with God from the start, and in fact is God Himself (vs. 1).  It was this perfect expression of God that created all things, and it was in this perfect expression and communication of God that the life and light which all human beings need and hunger for was found.  In verse 14 John also makes clear that this "Logos", this perfect expression and communication of God, is Jesus, the One who became flesh and dwelt among us.

So Jesus, the perfect expression of God almighty, the One whom everything was created by and through, the One who has the light of men, shone that light into the darkness of this world, and according to verse 5, "the darkness did not comprehend it".  The Greek word translated "comprehend" is a word that can mean to comprehend, as in "to understand", but it also can mean several other things.  It can mean "to take eagerly, to seize, or possess, to apprehend, attain, come upon, find, obtain, or perceive."  It also has another meaning in addition to these, which is "To overcome or overtake."  When John used this word, it is possible he had in mind one of these meanings, or it is possible that he used this word because he wanted a word that encompassed all of these possible meanings.  At any rate, any one of these meanings rings true when put in the verse in place of the word comprehend, because certainly, darkness did not overcome the light, and surely the darkness also did not eagerly take the light or even perceive it.

Verses 9-11 expound on the thought about the light and this world's reaction to it, the light came into this world and it was not taken eagerly, not embraced, not received willingly. The light is given to everyone coming into this world, but few grab hold of it, and few receive Him.  A couple of chapters later we are given the reason that so few are eager to take hold of this light.  In John 3:19-20 we read, "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed". (John 3:19-20, New King James Version) It is not that God has failed to give light to all, and it is not that some are simply incapable of coming to that light, the problem is that darkness hides our sin.  Darkness allows us to continue doing as we please, whereas light exposes those shameful things done in secret, so we tend to run for the cover of darkness.  We tend to love the darkness because it hides our sin.

Despite the fact that we have a need, a hunger for that light and life which is found only in Jesus, we don't want to change, we don't want to be exposed, so we hide.  That is what keeps people from coming to Christ.  For some of us though, we do eventually come to the place where we can't take the darkness and emptiness anymore and we are willing to step into that light and receive Him, it is not an easy thing to do, because we have to admit our own wretchedness, but once we do it we are given a cleansing and a new life that is so much better than the old one spent hiding in darkness.

Are you in the light?

If you are not sure, ask God to show you.  Admit to Him that you are a sinner, confess to Him any specific sins that come to mind, but don't feel like you must remember every one, the main thing is admitting to Him that you have been walking in sin and darkness, and to ask Him to shine His light into your life, to become your Lord, and to save you from your sin. Believe that Jesus came into the world and died on the cross to pay the price for your sin, and that He rose from the dead to give you eternal life.  Make the decision to step into His light, and to live for Him in thankfulness for His salvation.  Pray to Him right now, and become His child.

If you already know Him and belong to Him, thank Him today for shining that light and drawing you to Himself.  Praise Him for your salvation.