Light of the World

About 30 years ago I had the pleasure of driving to Anderson, Indiana to pick up my sister from college and drive her home for a weekend.  All I remember from the car ride home is that Shelly and I had a concert!  You may not know this, but my sister has a gift of singing.  She carries a beautiful tune and I love to sing with her.  In fact, I love sitting next to her in church so I can sing along with her during worship.  It almost makes me feel like I am a good singer.  Anyway, we had an Amy Grant album blasting in the car and sang the entire 3 hours ride home.  I remember distinctly, bolting out the words, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path”, (Psalm 119:105).  I can still sing the whole song to this day.  It is a song that climbs to my memory when I feel lost and have no idea which direction to take.  Our chapter today in John 8 has a verse that reminded me of this time and these words.

Once more Jesus addressed the crowd.  He said, “I am the Light of the world.  He who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

John 8:12

In John 8, Jesus was at a big festival in Jerusalem called the festival of the tabernacle.  A huge part of this festival was the lighting of large lamps that lit the entire temple area.  People gathered in the light to sing praises to God and dance.  

Right in the middle of this, Jesus told the crowd that He is the light of the world and anyone who follows Him will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.  (John 8:12)  When darkness surrounds us, light is what gives us direction so we can find the right path.  Light is our security and helps us feel less lonely.  When we follow Jesus, He is that light.

Without the light of Jesus, we would be stuck.  We would be trapped in our sin, our darkness, with no way out.  When we follow Jesus, we live life His way, and He is the light that guides us out of darkness.  

I am thankful for this light in my own life.  This past year has been full of some dark days when things did not go as I planned.  I easily could have stayed in the darkness and been overcome by my circumstances.  And, if I am honest, there were moments that I let myself feel the pain and the heaviness of the moment.  But, then I would open the Bible and and let the light creep in.  Little by little God would let me see glimpses of light that brought me hope.  The enemy wants to strip me of that light.  He does everything in his power to bring me back to the darkness, to make me feel like my life will never get better.  But, thank goodness Jesus is all powerful and rules over the darkness.  Each time I feel the darkness creeping in, I look to the light, to Jesus!  And He never fails!  It is not always magical or instantaneous, but Jesus’ words fill my heart and mind with hope.

Praise and singing words of worship to Jesus let the light shine in and remind us that Jesus is the light of life.  Turn on the christian radio station, google a praise album on your phone, or just start signing songs that you remember from Church.  You will immediately feel your feelings shift and hope rising inside of you.  Jesus is the light of life.

https://youtu.be/a6LC8cu03Ig

“Thy Word”

[Chorus:]

Light Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet

And a light unto my path

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet

And a light unto my path

When I feel afraid, think I’ve lost my way

Still You’re there right beside me

Nothing will I fear as long as you are near

Please be near me to the end

[Chorus]

I will not forget your love for me

And yet my heart forever is wandering

Jesus be my guide, hold me to Your side

And I will love You to the end

[Chorus]

Nothing will I fear as long as you are near

Please be near me to the end

[Chorus]

And a light unto my path

You’re the light unto my path

(Thanks Shelly for letting me write for you today!  Steph)