JESUS, THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”  (John 8:12 NKJV)

 The star Sirius is so far away from our little earth, that its light, traveling at the rate of 186,000 miles per second, has to travel for eight long years before it can reach our eyes; and yet it is so bright that, when its ray shines down the telescope, the eye of the astronomer is dazzled as though by the sun. But if the light of a single created world is so in the physical sphere, what shall we say of Him of whom we are told "God is Light, and in Him is no darkness at all?" Yet we may live and work in that searchlight, and have fellowship with Him!

Present tense cleansing. There was a chimney sweep who was a devout Christian. On Sundays he sang loudly in harmony with the congregation, and his face shone with the love of God. But if you happened to call on him after returning from work, his face was covered with so much soot you could hardly recognize him! Yet even then there was one part as clear and bright as on Sunday mornings! The pupils of his eyes set in pearly white! It seemed as though these were impervious to the black soot of the smoke dust. And why! Because nature, which is the glove on the hand of God, has provided eyelids, eye-lashes, and above all, tears, so that whatever be our environment, the eye is kept washed and clean. Is not this an illustration of what the Apostle meant by the "blood of Jesus Christ cleansing from all sin?" It’s the same truth as our Lord taught, when, having washed the disciples' feet; He said that he who had bathed in the morning needed only to wash his feet.

The ultimate purpose of the soul, therefore, should be to walk in the light as He is in the light. God covers Himself with light as with a garment. It is a symbol of purity and love and joy. And our life is meant to be like that, even when we are compelled to spend the hours of the day in the company of those who know not God, and perhaps blaspheme His Name. Our light may radiate from our heart and face, and fall on those around. That fellowship and communion with Him may be unbroken! The song of the Lord may rise in our hearts without an earth shattering note! It seems incredible and impossible, especially when one is conscious of so much sin and failure! No, it is not impossible, if once we have learned the secret of this present tense---"the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin."

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, fill me with Your light and joy so that I may have the desire to give to my home and friends, and to the dark world around me that same light and joy. Keep me from hiding my light under the bushel of my own anxieties. In Jesus' name I pray this, AMEN.

God's Daily Promise

Promise #336:
My family in heaven and on earth is named after Me. 

Ephesians 3:14-15 (WEB)
14 For this cause, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,