Jesus, the Light of the World

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” John 8:12 (NLT2)

There is something about Jesus that just gets to the point.  Life, eternal, and abundant life, is available only through the Creator.  People have been contacted by the one who made all things, and without him, nothing that exists would have been made.  He has absolute knowledge about what gives life and offers a path to life, which is following him.  People walk in darkness.  Darkness is the state of existence. 

“Whoa,” someone may say, “they might walk in darkness, but not me, not me.”  A fish lives in water, surrounded by it, suspended in it, breathing it in, but not conscious that the liquid realm in which it exists is anything other than a normal way of life for all things.  People without the light of Christ live in darkness, which is to them, normal, not recognizing there is so much more. 

Jesus is the light of the world and provides a way out of darkness into life.  If Jesus’ way leads to life, then walking in darkness leads to stumbling around, injury, and death. 

A choice is given to people to follow Jesus if they want to.  Walking in darkness is not an option for those not following Jesus.  To whatever degree, people are not following Jesus; they are walking in darkness. 

Consider the weight of that reality.  If the leaders of your government determine things that impact your life and they are not following Jesus, then they are walking in darkness.  If the people running your financial institution are not walking with Jesus, they are walking in darkness.  When your pharmacist fills prescriptions for you and is not following Jesus, they are walking in darkness.  The people making decisions, writing books, reporting the news, producing music, and movies that are not following Jesus are walking in darkness.   Can they see better than you in the dark?  No, of course not, darkness takes away people’s ability to discern wisely, to read the labels, to see where to go. 

Life is found in Jesus, the light of the world.  Follow him.  Pray for those in darkness to see the light.