Consider the Light
John 3:16-21:
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
We are probably all somewhat familiar with the first half of what Jesus' said about the purpose of His presence on earth. However, consider the seriousness of the second part. "Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil."
Consider light
Have you ever had someone shine a bright light in your face? Maybe a flashlight or the hue of a cell phone light. Or maybe you were sleeping in a dark room, and someone flipped the light switch, and it made you flinch? Light is bright, it cast out darkness and exposes anything that is concealed or hidden.
When it relates to our hearts and the nature of Jesus in this passage, let's consider this visual: Imagine a dirty room with dim lighting, or no lighting at all. This room has not been dusted, swept, or decluttered in over 18+ years. Dishes have been thrown in the corner. Sheets have not been washed from all the shared bodies who have laid across it. Just the thought o if, makes your skin crawl. There's an empty pizza box shoved underneath the bed that is growing something green that you can't quite name.
However, the occupant of this room is utterly unbothered because they can't "see" the filth their living in. The lack of light causes there to be a level of comfortably and satisfactory with the condition of it.
It is not until a switch is flicked, and someone comes in with an illuminating light that everything gets revealed. When that light comes on, the mess and chaos is revealed.
This is precisely what Jesus' does when we invite Him into the rooms of our hearts. He begins to shine a light all of the dysfunction that we have comfortably called "home". It can be an uncomfortable confrontation because we often don't even know the depths of our dirt, and the layers of gangrene that have accumulated.
There are three responses to Jesus' presence and revelation on our "rooms":
One Immediately decides, "I cannot live like this any longer" and buys the bleach (the Bible) that kills germs (sin) and lets the person (Jesus) who lovingly expose it, teach how to get out of all this mess and stay out.
One decides to walk around in denial that what they see is not bothering them. Yet, when they lay down at night, they feel the discomfort of those dirty sheets, and can hear the creepy crawlies under the bed. Instead of choosing to do the work or run to the light, they do whatever they can to suppress the truth that their living in filth.
Or, one may occasionally entertain the light by attending a zoom church service, or watching their favorite YouTube pastor online, but kinda-sorta still likes to do their own thing beyond that. They may be cool with Jesus' being the Savior of the world, but barely desire Him to be Lord over their life and allow for the Light that redeems, yet equally exposes, completely renew and transform their soul (mind, motives, emotions, intentions, moods, and attitudes). So, they say they love the light, but live as liars to what the Light purposes and wills to do.
NO CONDEMNATION
Jesus says here that His purpose is not to condemn the world but to save it. He mean that for you and I, and offered to us the truth behind our sin nature, and the grace to overcome slavery to its dictates. He says in (Romans 8) that there's no condemnation for those who are IN Christ Jesus, who walk NOT after the flesh, but by the spirit.
Condemn means to express an unfavorable or adverse judgment on, to sentence to punishment, to judge or pronounce to be unfit for use or service.
That was not His initial mission and assignment for coming to earth at all. Instead, He came to redeem us to the Father, reconcile us to a right relationship with Him, and to promise us eternal life in Heaven where there will be no more tears, pain, death, or suffering. Additionally, by believing in Him, we get to walk victorious and purposeful while here on earth. We don't have to live mediocre, but we can live as overcomers and join Him in being salt and light of this hurting world.
However, because the world (humankind) have chosen, and is choosing, not to receive this Light, and continue to do what is evil and grievous to the Heart of God, the condemnation based on righteous judgment will come (Romans 1). Unfortunately, it will be based on our own choosing to reject what He offered to us and made available to us through Jesus Christ.
The good news is there is still time to REPENT. Jesus' said in Romans 10:9-13:
But what does it say?
"The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
TODAY: May we choose today to live by the truth and allow for the light to expose anything within us that is an offense to God. May we also give thanks because we have been given the opportunity to BELIEVE and have a Light come into our lives to remove the darkness, dimness, and moral blindness that we couldn't see.
Until next time,
