Have you ever been in a place that was completely dark – no light at all? It can be unnerving and disorienting. After you have taken time to settle your thoughts, you must feel your way to where you think there will be some light. Paul described humanity this way as he presented the gospel to Athenian philosophers, “that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us (Acts 17:27). Henri Nouwen said, “Without the radiant beam of light shining into the darkness there is little to be seen. But everything changes with the light.” In that, we recognize the profound blessing of the advent of Jesus Christ; “In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:4–5). God’s self-disclosure is his light shining into the darkness of our human experience. His light rescues us from our self-oriented delusions, the distractions of immediate gratification, the despair of meaninglessness, and the death that results, “For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light” (Psalm 36:9).
Acknowledging God’s self-disclosure is the beginning point of being able to recognize reality. Jesus said “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). Light proceeds from God because God is light. In him is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). Paul affirmed to the Corinthians, “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6). Let’s be clear that light is not just that which is scientifically defined as electromagnetic radiation from charged particles; light has a name.
Fyodor Dostoevsky said, “We have never truly breathed air nor seen light until we have breathed in the God-inspired Bible and see the world in the Bible's light.” To this Peter says, “…you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place…” (2 Peter 1:19). The word he used for “pay attention” means to consider carefully and devote yourself to it (see 1 Timothy 4:13). To what end do we devote ourselves to the light of God’s word? “…Until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” It leads us to focus on the glory of Christ to where we are captivated by him in our attitudes and affections, overtaking the darkness within. Peter echoes eschatological terms to remind us that this process will only be complete when we see Jesus face to face. John reminds us “everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure” (1 John 3:3). To walk in the light, fix your gaze on Jesus Christ through his self-disclosure.
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