The Light That Shines in Darkness

There's something universally unsettling about walking through a dark house in the middle of the night. We've all done it—that careful shuffle from bedroom to bathroom, hands outstretched, feet moving cautiously to avoid stubbing a toe on the bed frame or tripping over an unseen obstacle. We know things are there, but they're shrouded in a veil our eyes cannot penetrate. We need light to reveal, to walk, to truly live.
This simple human experience points to a profound spiritual reality: we desperately need light in our darkness.
The True Light Has Come
The Gospel of John introduces Jesus Christ with a remarkable declaration: He is "the true light, which gives light to everyone." Not just a light, but the true light—the authentic, genuine source of illumination that our souls require.
This distinction matters immensely. Life offers us many lesser lights that we mistake for the real thing. Family brings joy and hope. Our strength and abilities give us confidence. Meaningful work provides purpose and community. These are genuine blessings, gifts to be grateful for. But they are not the true light.
The danger lies in allowing these secondary lights to take the place that belongs only to Christ. We thank God for our blessings, then redirect all our attention and devotion to them rather than to Him. But Jesus alone is the true light—the only way to access the Father, the only path to forgiveness, the only entrance to eternal life.
We need Him. Not just as an add-on to our already full lives, but as the central, throne-occupying Lord of everything.
Light for Everyone
The true light "gives light to everyone." This is a universal revelation, though not universal salvation—an important distinction. Christ has revealed the way to the Father for all to see. He has made the character and nature of God known to every person. But not everyone receives this light.
What does this light do? First, it exposes darkness. When we look at Christ's perfect, righteous, holy life, our own sins are revealed and put on display. The light doesn't just expose our sin—it convicts us of it, showing us that Christ is our example, the one we must follow.
Beyond conviction, the true light guides believers step by step through life. God has given humanity three ways to know Him: through creation (which declares His glory), through conscience (which testifies to right and wrong), and through Christ (who fully reveals who God is).
These three witnesses leave us without excuse. We cannot claim ignorance. We cannot say we never heard or never saw. The creator of all things is not hiding from us. He has made Himself fully known through His Son.
If you want to know God, you can. If you want a relationship with the God of the universe, you can have it. The awesome, powerful, wonderful Creator has stepped out of the shadows and revealed Himself in Jesus Christ.
The Tragedy of Rejection
Yet here we encounter one of the saddest truths in all of Scripture: "He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him."
The Creator stepped into creation. The eternal entered the temporal. The immortal took on mortality. The one through whom all things were made—without whom nothing was made that has been made—came to His own people. They had the prophecies. They had the covenant. They had the temple and the sacrifices. Everything should have pointed them to recognize the Messiah when He arrived.
And yet they rejected Him.
Why? Because of spiritual blindness caused by sin. As John 3:19 explains, "The light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil." Those who work evil don't operate in broad daylight; they wait for darkness to conceal their deeds.
This is the heart of rejection: people love their sin more than they love the light. Rejection of Christ is active, not passive. It's a choice made repeatedly to say, "No, I will not follow Jesus."
Even those who should have known better—God's covenant people who had waited and hoped for the Messiah—rejected Him. Their familiarity with religion didn't lead to faith. Christ didn't meet their expectations. They wanted a conquering king; they missed all the prophecies about the suffering servant.
This remains a danger today. Growing up in church, being familiar with spiritual things, being around the light—none of these equal receiving the light. Being near the fire doesn't make you warm; you must step into it.
Becoming Children of God
But then comes that glorious word: But.
"But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."
This is a complete position change. We who were enemies of God, who had no right or authority to enter His family, are given the privilege of adoption. Think about it: God takes His enemies and loves them so much that He invites them to the family table, gives them an inheritance, and grants them 24/7 access to Him.
It's like a boy standing outside castle gates, wishing he could see the king, being repeatedly turned away by guards. Then the king's son arrives and says, "Follow me." The son has access because of his relationship, and he shares that access with the outsider.
That's what Christ does for all who believe.
Born of God
This new birth—this transformation from enemy to child—doesn't happen through human means. We're not born into God's family by blood (our heritage doesn't save us), by flesh (our good works can't earn it), or by human will (no one else can do it for us).
We are born of God alone.
Your parents' faith won't get you into heaven, no matter how saintly they are. Your best efforts are insufficient, no matter how good you try to be. And even the most fervent prayers of others cannot force your salvation.
Only God can save. Our salvation is a miracle we cannot create—only God can perform it.
This is both sobering and liberating. For the person far from God, it means there's only one place to turn: to Him. Humble yourself. Repent of sin. Trust in Christ. Say, "Lord, save me."
For the believer, it's a reminder that we're saved by grace through faith, not by works. And it means God is still in the miracle-working business. The greatest miracle isn't healing cancer or changing impossible circumstances—it's transforming a heart of stone into a heart of flesh.
A Decision Point
The light is shining. It shines on all of us so we might see, walk, and truly live. Each person stands at a decision point: Will you believe and receive, or deny and reject?
Step out of darkness into His marvelous light. The God who loved you enough to send His Son to die for you invites you into eternal life. Don't leave this moment without knowing Him.
The true light has come. Will you receive Him?