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

Once upon a time, there was a blind woman named Penelope.  She wandered through life with all sorts of trouble.  Penelope bumped into things, had difficulty in relationships of all kinds, and never could seem to find direction.  Blame had become her closest companion, though a toxic one at best, and she invited everyone she knew to meet this companion of hers.  Penelope tried crutches of many sorts to assist her.  She thought that these crutches she had and her companion were all that she needed and would ever need, but still she struggled.

Then one day, Penelope had an ailment neither her crutches nor companion could fix.  When she went to the doctor and explained her full list of symptoms, the doctor remarked, "Well of course you're experiencing these things, Penelope.  You're blind.  These symptoms are common among people with your condition."

It was true.  Penelope never knew that she was blind.  Suddenly and from that moment on, everything was clear to Penelope.

The words of Jesus in John 8:12 are so simple and yet at the same time they are so profound.

2 Corinthians 4:4 tells us, "Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God" (NLT).  We often wonder how people in the world can continue to stumble and make terrible choices—decisions that destroy them and every good thing God has given them.  Like Penelope, they do not even realize they are blind—unable to see the goodness of God that is directly in front of them, even chasing them down (Proverbs 13:21).  

As Christians we can be blinded to God's goodness, as well.  Scripture tells us in 2 Corinthians 4:7, "We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure.  This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves" (NLT).

May all who carry this light shine brightly that the world around them might see.  

See Jesus.

"'Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.'  After saying these things, Jesus went away and was hidden from them" (John 12:36, NLT).

Goodnight, Runners.

"But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:7, NLT).