House of Hope Online

December 10, 2023

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On Christmas, we celebrate the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus into the world.  The Book of John explains that Jesus’ coming into the world represents the coming of the true Light of Life.

John 1:

 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

 5 ¶ And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

John 1:

 9 There was the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.

 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.

 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.

 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, [even] to those who believe in His name,

John 8:

 12 ¶ Again therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

John 12:

 46 “I have come [as] light into the world, that everyone who believes in Me may not remain in darkness.

The Greek word for “light” means a divine illumination to reveal and impart life, through Christ.  So, Father God has sent Jesus to reveal and impart life to us.  He reveals all that is revealed, and He imparts life, which means He gives life.  He is the giver of life.  He said in John 8:12 that He is the Light of Life.  He is a divine illumination that reveals and imparts life.

These are powerful scriptures and powerful truths that enlighten us.  Jesus is the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.  He shines in the darkness and the darkness does not comprehend Him.  His own people did not receive Him, but we who receive Him have the right to become children of God. 

Get that point – not everyone is a child of God, only those who receive Jesus.  Everyone is created by God with free will to receive or reject Christ, but only those who receive Christ in their heart, confess Him as Lord and believe that God raised Him from the dead, have the right to become children of God.  Only those who receive Him will be enlightened.  Only those who receive Him will no longer walk in darkness.

So many will celebrate a gift exchange on December 25 this year without having received Him, and we should pray for those, that they will receive the Light of Life.

The Opposing Argument of Darkness

John 1:5 is interesting to me.  “And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”  Darkness does not comprehend Jesus.  The Apostle Paul, in closing his first letter to Timothy, warned against the opposing arguments of darkness.

1^st Timothy 6:

 20 O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly [and] empty chatter [and] the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge”–

 21 which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith. Grace be with you. (NASB)

There is an opposing argument, which is falsely called “knowledge.”  This is the devil’s intellectual spirit, which worships the mind of man.  This spirit claims to be enlightened but the word of God says darkness does not comprehend light.  Remember the Light of Life reveals and imparts life, so if darkness does not comprehend Jesus, it has no revelation.

Walk as Children of the Light

Paul also warns us in Ephesians 5 to not participate with darkness, but instead to walk as children of the Light.

Ephesians 5:

 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them;

 8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light

 9 (for the fruit of the light [consists] in all goodness and righteousness and truth),

 10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

 11 And do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;

 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.

 13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.

 14 For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.”

 15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise,

 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil.

Paul is admonishing us to be careful not to participate in darkness, but instead to walk in the Light, because the days are evil.  Be careful engaging with unsaved friends and family because darkness employs arguments that are opposed to the Light of Life.  Love them, pray for them, but do not even give a greeting to another gospel.  Do not accommodate the opposing argument that there is another way to eternal salvation.  That is darkness not comprehending the Light.  Do not participate in it.

Benefits of the True Light

The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Colossians, highlights the many benefits that Jesus, our true Light, has brought to us.

Colossians 1:

 9 ¶ For this reason also, since the day we heard [of it], we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

 10 so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please [Him] in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

 11 strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously

 12 ¶ giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

 13 For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,

 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

The benefits of the Light are great and many:  Spiritual wisdom and understanding, fruitfulness, increasing knowledge of God, power, steadfastness, patience, joy.  What stands out to me, in verse 12, is that the Light qualifies us to share in the inheritance of the saints (salvation).  We are delivered from the domain of darkness, transferred to the Kingdom of God.  We are redeemed and forgiven!  Praise Jesus!

Do not overlook the importance of the Light of Life.  It takes deliverance from the domain of darkness, where the devil rules in opposition to Jesus.  But Jesus came to deliver us from the domain of darkness and to give us the abundant life.

John 10:

 10 “The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have [it] abundantly.

Praising the True Light

Let us close by praising Jesus, our true Light, as King David did in Psalms 103.

Psalms 103:

 1 ¶ ([A Psalm] of David.) Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, [bless] His holy name.

 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits;

 3 Who pardons all your iniquities; Who heals all your diseases;

 4 Who redeems your life from the pit; Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;

 5 Who satisfies your years with good things, [So that] your youth is renewed like the eagle.

 6 ¶ The LORD performs righteous deeds, And judgments for all who are oppressed.

 7 He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the sons of Israel.

 8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.

 9 He will not always strive [with us]; Nor will He keep [His anger] forever.

 10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.

 12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

 13 Just as a father has compassion on [his] children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.

 14 For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are [but] dust.

 15 As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

 16 When the wind has passed over it, it is no more; And its place acknowledges it no longer.

 17 But the lovingkindness of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children,

 18 To those who keep His covenant, And who remember His precepts to do them.

 19 ¶ The LORD has established His throne in the heavens; And His sovereignty rules over all.

 20 Bless the LORD, you His angels, Mighty in strength, who perform His word, Obeying the voice of His word!

 21 Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, You who serve Him, doing His will.

 22 Bless the LORD, all you works of His, In all places of His dominion; Bless the LORD, O my soul!  (NASB)

Verses 14-16 speak to our perishable nature without the Light, but verse 17 praises the everlasting nature of His love for us.  We go from perishable to imperishable because of the true Light.  Or, as the Apostle Paul writes in 1^st Corinthians15:54: “But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory.”  This Christmas season, pray that many more will put on the imperishable by receiving the true Light.

As you prepare to celebrate Christmas this year, prepare your heart also to be thankful that the true Light has come into the world to reveal and impart life to us.  The true Light has come, and the true Light is coming again to shine in the darkness.  Because of Him, we have the Spirit of Life in us.  Because of Him, life is revealed to us by the Holy Spirit.  And because of Him, life is eternal for us.  Praise Jesus!

Let us pray.

Father God, thank You for the true Light of the world.  Thank You for the divine illumination and revelation that manifests in our life through Jesus.  Prepare our hearts this Christmas to pray for those who remain in the darkness, that they may comprehend the Light and begin enjoying His many benefits.  In Jesus’ name, we pray.  Amen.