[Biblemat] A> How Do You See The Light?

[Steven C. Harper]

From: TRUTH & REASON, a bulletin of the Glendale church of Christ, Glendale, AZ. 
Editor: Steven Harper 
February 11, 2007

How Do You See The Light?

 

     In the scientific realm, light is one thing that is absolutely essential to sight, for that is how our eyes are able to see. As strange as it may sound, we do not actually see objects, but the light that reflects off of those objects, which defines its shape and color. Lights of differing colors will show an object to be differing colors, though it may actually be plain white. In complete darkness, there is no light to shine on objects and, thus, no reflected light to register with our eyes and - as a result - no way to see the object. Though we are unable to see objects in darkness, that does not mean those things do not exist, however. One walk through the living room at night and your toes will discover this rather quickly!

     We also see in the scientific realm that there may be varying reactions to light. Shine a light directly in someone's eyes and they will react adversely, if they are searching for something in a dimly-lit area, light will be welcome. Maybe you have had the unfortunate opportunity to walk into a dark room and turn on the light, only to see the cockroaches scurrying to get out of the light? They despise light and thrive in darkness! On the other hand, one who is lost in darkness will gladly welcome a shining light as hope for rescue and will move quickly towards the light; to them, it is comfort and hope.

     In the spiritual realm, light is often equated with the way of righteousness (1 John 1:7), the Word of God (Psa. 119:105), and Jesus Christ (John 8:12); darkness is equated with the way of wickedness (Prov. 4:19), ignorance of truth (Eccl. 2:14), and the place of torment (Matt. 25:30). As ones outside of Christ, we are/were all within "the domain of darkness" (Col. 1:13), but in Christ we "share in the inheritance of the saints in light" (v. 12). Clearly, the one outside of Christ is in darkness while the one in Christ is in the light.

     That said, how do you see the light? How do you react when others speak to you of the way of righteousness, the Word of God, and of Jesus Christ? Do you see the light as:

     Something You Do Not Know? (Job 24:16) Job speaks of evil men who do their evil deeds so often in darkness that it could be said they "do not know the light." That is not to say they do not know it exists [they "shut themselves up" in the daytime], but that they refuse to have anything to do with it. Sadly, there are many people that react to the light of God's Word, the way of righteousness, and Jesus Christ in this way. They do not want to know the Word of God, they do not want to walk in the way of righteousness, and they do not want to hear what Jesus has to say to them, so they "shut themselves up" from ever listening to it and shut off all attempts to teach them the words by which they could be saved from their sins (Acts 11:14). They truly fulfill the prophetic words of Isaiah because "their eyes they have closed.lest they should see with their eyes" (Acts 28:27; cf. Isa. 6:9-10).

     But let us not think that this problem is one only of unbelievers. Sometimes, believers study just enough of God's Word that they begin to think they have all the answers and then close their eyes to any further learning. In this state, they cannot see that others might be rightly handling the Word while their own understanding is erroneous; some close their eyes to the truth because they have been swayed by fleshly pursuits and, knowing they will be condemned by Scripture, they close their eyes to any further study or consideration of God's Word and justify themselves by human wisdom instead. Could this be you? Or maybe you see the light as:

     Something To Rebel Against? (Job 24:13) While this first group chooses to willfully refrain from knowing the light, these are ones who willingly "rebel against the light" and who "do not stay in its paths." This is eerily similar to the charge God made against His own people when, after He pleaded with them to return to "the ancient paths, where the good way is" (Jer. 6:16), they said "We will not walk in it." They willfully rebelled against the will of God and pursued the ways of the world, though God had promised them great blessings if they would repent and turn back to Him.

     While a rebellious attitude may be popular today among our society, it has no place in spiritual matters. Samuel warned king Saul, "rebellion is as the sin of divination" (1 Sam. 15:23) - something I can assure you is not a positive attribute! Note the number of times God calls His people a "rebellious house" as He directs Ezekiel to speak to them (Ezek. 2:5-8) and we see that it was a common problem with the Israelites - one which led them into captivity and destruction.

     Many people today live in open rebellion to God's Word - including many who, like the Israelites, claim to be His followers! Whenever we read God's Word and try to find a way around it, make excuses for our disobedience, or simply reject it, we are living in rebellion against the light! Could this be you? Or maybe you see the light as:

     Something To Hate? (John 3:20) Jesus said, "Everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed." That succinctly describes the attitude of those whose minds are set on the flesh, for the fleshly mind is, by nature, "hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law" (Rom. 8:7). One whose mind is set on the flesh is one who clearly wants to indulge in sin, and when one shines the light of God's Word on his evil deeds he will sometimes react violently because he has been exposed. They would rather go about their sinfulness quietly and without undue attention because it allows them to indulge without interruption and without guilt. When the light is shone on them and their deeds, they can no longer escape notice and now the ugly head of guilt arises and they must see its ugliness face to face. They cannot simply turn their heads away anymore so they direct their hatred for exposure at the one who exposed them!

     The sad fact of this one, though, is that he does not realize God always sees his evil deeds! God always knows that what he has done is sin because God sees and knows all things (Eccl. 12:14; Heb. 4:13; 1 Cor. 4:5). But because he has rejected the Word of God, he does not recognize this and lives as if he has no guilt. Could this be you? Or maybe you see the light as:

     Something To Walk In? (1 John 1:7) While it is true that the world will overwhelmingly choose one of the former reactions to the light, it is also true that there are a few still living who will choose to "walk in the light, as He is in the light" that they might "have fellowship" with God and enjoy the cleansing of Christ's blood. These are the ones who understand the dangers of darkness and the destruction brought by the absence of the light of God's Word. These are the ones who understand Jesus alone is the way out of darkness and into the light, and that it is by the written, revealed Word of God that we may know the way to heaven. These are the ones who know the light and embrace it, who do not rebel against it but willingly and out of love obey it, and who do not hate it but love it for it is the means of their soul's salvation.

     Could this be you? It could be if your heart is one that is touched by the love of God, who sent His only begotten Son to die for your sins that you might have the hope of eternal life in heaven with Him and the rest of the saints! It could be you if you would pick up your Bible and read and study to know God's Will for you, if you are willing to submit to the will of God, and if you are willing to return the great love that God has shown towards you, though we were all certainly undeserving.

     Not all people will react to the light of God's Word and to Jesus Christ in a way that will bring spiritual benefits that lead to eternal life, but you could be one who does. How do you see the light?

-- Steven Harper
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