Jesus is the light of the world!  There is incredible power inside the words, “Jesus is the light of the world.”  This light is indescribably bright, but describing it is something we must try to do, so perhaps we could start in the dark.

Have you ever been in a place or a situation that was so dark and desperate, you were not sure how you would live through it?  Perhaps it was an accident, sickness or terrible news that caused you to feel hopeless or lost.  Overwhelming darkness.

My dark story happened while rock-climbing in Nevada when I dropped our water bottles nearly a thousand feet above the ground on a scorching hot day.  While this alone should have stopped our climb, we continued upward, determined to reach the top.  On the repel down, our rope snagged behind a hidden ledge causing us to make a time consuming and dangerous detour.  By the time we finally touched the ground, dusk turned to night and several serious problems emerged with the darkness.

We were cold, spent from energy, totally dehydrated, in the middle of a harsh and desolate desert.  Hiking three hours over rough terrain to get to our car in the dark would be impossible, and we both knew it.  No one said anything as we wrapped the ropes, then unpacked and re-packed our gear in the futile attempt to find a flashlight.  Silently, we wished we had been better prepared.   Darkness not only descended into the desert, but it filled our eyes and flooded our minds, even as I tried to pray.

Now, there is absolutely no doubt that all of us have been in dark times.  We have seen loved ones die.  We’ve experienced the dark heartbreak of broken relationships.  We’ve felt like we were in the pit of darkness with debt, fear, uncertainty, sickness and despair.  But understanding such anguish is the only way to truly appreciate the glory, holiness and hope we can find in the true light of God.

No wonder the Bible talks about light so many times!  In fact, the first words ever said by God are, “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3).  In the same way, the Gospel of John opens with, “In Jesus is Life, and his life is the light to all mankind” (John 1:4).  And Revelation bookends the Bible with these magnificent words: “Never again will there be any night. No one will need lamplight or sunlight. The shining of God, the Master, is all the light anyone needs (Revelation 22:5).

Yes, light dispels darkness.  And the only eternal light is not some abstract idea or thing, but rather it is the person of Jesus!  Jesus came to impart the light of God to men, and that is why he said, “I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but have the light of life” (John 8:12).

When Jesus is our true light, we will never walk in darkness.  What an incredible thing to hang onto when our world can be so dark.  And as for my desperate, dark time in the desert, the power of light could not have shown itself in a more poetic, miraculous and timely way.  As we sat down to consider how we would survive the night, a sliver of light seemed to break over the horizon, right in the direction of our car.  Then, ever so slowly, the biggest, fullest and brightest moon I had ever seen in my life cracked the horizon and rose to light our way.  

My friends, in the very same way, we have the privilege of letting the light of Jesus shine into the darkness of our sin before it engulfs our hearts and lives.  Let’s pray, “Dear Lord Jesus, I want to thank you for your light.  I ask you to be my Lord and Savior.  I ask you to light up my world with the beauty and power of your light.  Amazing Jesus, thank you for loving me!  Amen.”