2 Kings 17-18 John 3:19-36

“They are judged by this fact: The Light has come into the world, but they did not want light. They wanted darkness, because they were doing evil things. All who do evil hate the light and will not come to the light, because it will show all the evil things they do.” (John 3:19-20 NCV)

One of the repeating themes in John is the difference between the light and the dark. Light is seen as good. Light is the presence of God. Dark is evil. Dark is the absence of God. As you read through any of John’s writings, that theme pops up in different ways. People living in the light aren’t afraid to show or talk about how God is working in their lives, nor are they afraid to show the good things they do to honor God. They should be humble about that, but not afraid to show it. Darkness hides what people do. Darkness covers over the evil that men do. Those who hated Jesus did so because He shone God’s light on those caught up in the darkness of their religion. He lit the way for all those who lived in the darkness of sin.

When people hear about Jesus they either follow Him, or they turn away from Him. Putting off a decision to follow Him, is the same as turning away from Him. The problem many have with deciding to follow is that He does shine a light on our past lives. All our sins come to mind. Jesus brings our hidden past to the forefront of our memory so that we realize why we need Him. As those sins come up, though, Jesus heals and cleanses us if we turn to Him. When people turn against Him, when they reject Him, they scurry away trying to keep their sins hidden from God, not realizing that God knows all the evil they’ve done and loves them anyway. God never reveals our sins to embarrass us nor shame us, although we will be embarrassed and shamed by them, He reveals our sins to cause us to turn to Him to gain His forgiveness. Will you be like those who hate the light and work in darkness to hide their evil ways, or will you decide to live in the light of God’s forgiveness and grace? He lights the way to offer you His love no matter what you’ve done in the past.

Lord, I want to live in Your light and have fellowship with You. Cleanse me from all my sins, even as Your light reveals those things I would hide. Transform me so that I’m a creature of the light, not of the dark.

Scripture taken from the New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.