THE TRUE LIGHT

Jesus Christ is the light of the world!

That message has been conveyed for centuries throughout all of Christianity.  The gospel according to John makes reference to this very early on, in the first chapter, verses 4 and 5. “ In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

 

How appropriate it is that during the four weeks that we are preparing for the coming of Jesus, every day’s daylight gets a couple minutes shorter, and each day’s darkness gets a couple minutes longer.  I’m sure that very few of us enjoy the skies becoming pitch black before 5:00 when we make our way home from our daily work.  We are surrounded with darkness for a good portion of our waking hours at this time of the year. 

 

John reassures us, however, that this darkness does not have power over the One who is coming, the One who saves you, me, and all those who believe in Him.  Jesus is life, that life is the light of the human race, this light shines in any darkness, and the darkness has not and will not overcome the light. 

 

So as you are driving home after a long day at work, or walking the streets after your ride home from work on a train or bus, keep in mind that the darkness that surrounds you is only a temporary part of the natural world.  And let the true light, Jesus Christ, guide you as you make your way through this temporary state. 

 

Then apply the same principle to your life as a whole.  “Darkness” is not simply the absence of light from the sun outside.  Darkness is also something which comes when we turn our backs on Jesus and elect to live our lives in a state of sin.  Many people speak of “hell” as a place of fire.  I’m not exactly sure of that.  Fires are bright; I would perceive this hell as a place which is darker than the darkest night you can imagine; the darkness there is a result of Jesus, the light, not being there.  It’s the separation from God that is the most painful about hell, not the tales you may have seen where it is depicted as something along the lines of a torture chamber, complete with never ending fires, pitchforks, and demons who seem to obtain pleasure from keeping souls there to burn.  Whatever the case, of course we do not want to spend any time there, let alone forever.

 

Most of all, use these temporary 14 hour night times as a means to prepare ourselves for the coming of the greatest source of light in the entire universe in a few weeks. This light is the greatest gift that the world has ever received.  Because John said so.

Jim Hoffman

Assistant Director of Advancement Operations

St. Francis College