Christ came into the world bringing hope in the midst of evil and light in the midst of darkness. Darkness has not overcome it, cannot understand it and cannot extinguish this true light…

“The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world” (John 1:9).

The TRUE Light who gives light to everyone, who created the world, and came into the world, yet the world rejected him.

“He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him” (John 1:9).

Jesus Christ, our only hope, entered our darkness and hope was born.

Yet darkness still exists. 

Christ came into the world over 2,000 years ago, yet darkness seems to be winning.  Why?

Jesus explains when he says, “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” (John 3:19-20).

Light has come into the world, but people love darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone fears exposure. We get this as we read once again our newsfeed concerning ‘gaff-du jour’.  We watch as light reveals the worst in our politicians, news-reporters, entertainers, and others. We are appalled by their actions but would never want someone looking so deeply and meticulously into our past or our present.

We fear the light and what it might reveal of our own brokenness. Darkness offers some comfort. Anonymity allow us to move about in the dark. And so, we hide.

And lose.

You never really know me. I am hiding in the dark. And if I am hiding something, so are you.  You can’t really trust me, and neither can I trust you. Darkness…my old friend.

Being known and knowing never happens in the dark room of non-disclosure.

Being known and knowing never happens in the dark room of non-disclosure. We long for friendship, companionship and community, but we never experience these in the dark.  If you really knew me, you would reject me. If I reveal my true identity and am rejected, then what?

Light offers hope. The enemy want us to fear the light and exposure.

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Jesus is the light. He knows me. Jesus knows everything about me, even the things I’ve kept hidden even from those closest to me. Jesus knows EVERYTHING. Everything means everything! BUT Jesus does not reject me. 

Neither does he reject you.

Jesus came into the world knowing you and I would choose the darkness over light. Jesus came to pursue us, step into our darkness and invite us to overcome our fear and have faith.

Evil exists but Hope has come. Darkness persists but has not overcome The Light!

Christ has come and extends you an invitation. “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God” (John 1:12-13).

This NEW HOPE extends God’s grace offer to you—to those who did receive him. You can do that right now—Christ I receive your grace offer, enter into MY darkness and let your light shine in me.

Christ-followers have the light and walk in the light. Their deeds revealing the Light within them and the Light revealing their walk. More responsibility than privilege, our having the Light and walking in the Light calls us to reveal God’s presence in the world.

But have we become part of the darkness? We are quick to cry out against the evil in the world around us especially when it threatens us, disturbs us, or troubles us. Often, we fail to see the evil in our own actions. We quickly move to remove the splinter in another’s eye failing to see the log in our own eye!

Jesus warns us, “See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness” (Luke 11:35).

This little light of mine…do we let it shine? Do people see the Light of the Word in us?

Paul said, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light… everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light” (Ephesians 5:8, 13).

Jesus calls us into God’s glorious light. Hope has come, and Christ has chosen to display his life in us.  Hope has come into the world. God invites you into the light…to be part of the light…to bring hope.

True God. Real People. Lasting Hope. @hopeclarksville