Coming to the Light
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March 09, 2014 |
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 "But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God" (John 3:21).
Senior Pastor Dr. Jaerock Lee
As plants grow, most stems tend to grow outward towards light. In a way, people are also much the same. According to the goodness and evil in their hearts, some follow the truth and tend to move towards the light and others follow evil and become stained with darkness.
When faced with a certain similar hardship, some take a negative and dark view and go astray while others overcome it and then encourage and help other people who are in the similar situation. The more evil one has in his heart, the more susceptible a person is to darkness. But, if there is more goodness, the person will come to the Light following the truth.
Then, what should God's children do to keep from being stained with darkness and go to the Light following the truth?
1. The types of people who go to the Light
'Those who go toward the Light' refer to people who accepted Jesus Christ and practice the Word of God, who is the truth itself. Such people prefer light to darkness so they walk in the Light and bear the fruit of the Light.
That is why John 3:21 says, "But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God." The Light here refers to God who is everlasting and perfect. First John 1:5 reads, "…God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all." James 1:17 says, "…with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow."
God the Origin existed as Light since before the beginning. In order to gain true children with whom He could share His love, He came to exist as the Triune God: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. That is why Jesus, the Son of God, is also described as 'Light' in the Gospel of John chapter 1.
There are four types of people who come to the Light following the truth.
1) Those who long to listen to the Word of God and meditate on it day and night
When people accept Jesus Christ, they receive the Holy Spirit as a gift. The Spirit is the heart of God. Thus, if one receives the Holy Spirit, he will naturally like the Light that is God's attribute and long to listen to the Word of God which is the truth.
Suppose you listened to the Word of God telling you to love even your enemies. If you cast off hate and achieve love as He says, you will have peace in the mind and be filled with joy from above. Thus, Psalm 19:9-10 reads, "The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb."
2) Those who keep the Word of God they learned and practice it
The Word of God consists of four major classifications of things to 'Do', 'Not Do', 'Keep', and 'Cast away'. It is a duty of God's children who love Him to do what He tells us to do, not to do what He tells us not to do, keep what He tells us to keep, and cast off what He tells us to cast off. If we love God, we are not coerced to keep His commandments, but we can practice them with joy that arises from our hearts (1 John 5:3).
For instance, God tells us to keep the Sabbath holy. We can do so because we feel happy going to church on Sunday, offering up worship services, and having fellowship with brothers of faith. There is no sense of being forced to give tithes and thanks offerings, and the offerings aren't given sparingly. They give with thanks because they know the love of God who sacrificed His Son Jesus on the cross for them.
3) Those who cherish God-given duties and work faithfully
Aquila and Priscilla were a married-couple who were recorded in Acts. When Apostle Paul visited Corinth, they were the source of strength for him to achieve God's work. They offered their house as a meeting place for believers and allowed Paul to preach the gospel there. Eventually, a church was established there.
They helped Apostle Paul faithfully such that Romans 16:4 reads, "Who for my life risked their own necks, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles." They didn't spare their lives and dedicated themselves to the kingdom of God by helping Apostle Paul. Those who come to the Light cherish every duty God has given to them and work faithfully.
4) Those who unsparingly sacrifice their own lives for the kingdom of God and His righteousness
Apostle Paul had persecuted people who believed Jesus Christ before he met the Lord. From the time he met the Lord on the way to Damascus, he was changed. No matter what the trials and afflictions he met with, he preached the gospel with his whole being. Until he was beheaded as a martyr, he had devoted himself to extending the kingdom of God. By doing so, the gospel was spread in the Roman Empire that was the center of the world.
If one truly has faith and hope for Heaven, he will give thanks, rejoice, and preach about the Lord even in hardship. This is because when people insult us and persecute us for the Lord's sake, we believe that God will repay us with a great reward in Heaven (Matthew 5:11-12).
2. Blessings given to those who come to the Light
We are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, so that we may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). For people who come to the Light like this, the most beautiful dwelling place in Heaven, New Jerusalem, has been prepared.
Revelation chapter 21 tells us the city of New Jerusalem that houses God's throne. There are 12 pearl gates to the city on which the names of the twelve sons of Israel are written and 12 beautiful foundation stones on which the names of Jesus' twelve apostles are written. The number '12' spiritually symbolizes 'Light'.
The number of the pearl gates and the foundation stones in New Jerusalem is 12 each, which means that only those who have become perfect in deeds and have come to the Light, that is, those who have become sanctified and been faithful in all aspects, can enter New Jerusalem. To enter New Jerusalem, we should cast away untruthful things that belong to darkness and come to the Light by diligently acting in the truth.
Jesus came to the world as the Light, and He taught the truth and preached the gospel of the kingdom. If people were following darkness, they couldn't realize His teaching. Those of goodness repented of their sins through the Light of the truth and gained salvation.
Even today, the Spirit gives birth to spirit in anyone who accepts Jesus Christ and follows the desire of the Spirit. Then, they can escape from darkness and live in the Light. They come to communicate with God who is the Light and they are led in the way that is prosperous by the voice and urging of the Holy Spirit.
Also, to the extent that we become sanctified and persons of the Light, we can receive God's wisdom and understanding (James 3:17). Moreover, when we dwell in the Light, we can make peace with God. So, we can have overflowing joy and peace in our hearts under any kind of circumstance, have peace with all men, and give unceasing thanks to God.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I urge you to wisely cast away darkness every day and come to the Light with love for God who is the Light. I pray in the name of the Lord that in doing so you will enjoy prosperity in everything and eternal happiness and joy in New Jerusalem.
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