Senior Pastor Dr. Jaerock Lee
"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).
"If you love God who is Light, I urge you to cast away darkness and try to come to the Light every day. I hope that by doing so you will become perfect children of Light."
There are innumerable species of plants. When you take a closer look at them, you may find something amazing. If you put a pot of plants by the window for a few days, you may find the end of the stems stretching towards the window for the sunshine. Even plants and trees in dense forests where little sunshine comes through, stretch their stems and branches towards the sunlight.
But some plants grow in an opposite way to the sunlight. It is because each plant reacts to the light in different ways. Humans are similar in a spiritual sense.
They have good and evil in their hearts. Goodness comes from God, and it prefers things of goodness and follows the truth. On the contrary, evil belongs to the enemy devil, it likes darkness and results in sin and evil.
Depending on how good or how evil they are, some of them follow the truth and come to the Light, while others follow evil and drench themselves with darkness.
Take a good look at people around you. Even if they are under similar hardships, some people may feel pessimistic and choose the way to darkness and destruction, but others may help people in similar situations and try to live a rewarding life. And still others once belonged to a criminal group but turned back from their ways and came to live as law-abiding citizens.
What can we learn from this? Those who live with good conscience and upright hearts will go towards Light in any kind of situation. And even if they are stained with darkness for a while amid hardships and difficulties, they will try to turn back and come to the Light.
Let's now delve into what we should do to come to the Light and become beautiful and perfect children of Light.
1. He Who Practices the Truth Comes to the Light
John 3:21 reads, "But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God."
'He who practices the truth' refers to those who accepted Jesus Christ and practice the Word of God who is the truth. They prove that they came from God through deeds of Light.
What then is Light? Light refers to God in whom there is no darkness at all and who is eternal and perfect. When the attributes of God's heart are revealed outwardly, it is Light (1 John 1:5; James 1:17).
John 1:1-5 refers to Jesus who is the Son of God as Light, and 1 Peter 1:19 reads, "But with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ." That is, Jesus, who is the Word and came to the earth in flesh (John 1:14), is one with God in essence. He shines over all people with His light of life.
Thus, Light is God and Jesus Christ, and the word of the truth itself. Once again, God is Light, the Light is the word of the truth, and Jesus who is the Word, donned flesh and came to the earth. And Jesus who is the Word Himself took the cross, and by doing so He fulfilled His duty as the Savior for mankind and became the true way for all mankind.
2. People Who Come to the Light
First, they long to listen to the Word of God and meditate in it day and night.
When people hear the gospel, accept Jesus Christ, realize they are sinners and repent thoroughly, any of them can receive the Holy Spirit as a gift. The Holy Spirit is the heart of God. So, if they receive the Holy Spirit, they will naturally love Light which is the attribute of God and will long for the Word of God.
David was a representative biblical figure who exceedingly loved the Word of God. He wrote many chapters of Psalms. Psalm 119:97 says, "O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day." Why did he say he loved the law of God?
If God's children hate someone, it is against the law of God that is the truth. To the extent that they have untruth in their hearts, the Holy Spirit groans, peace is broken in their hearts, and they have pain. But if they are reminded that God tells us to love even our enemies, and they cast away hatred and love the person, they will have peace in heart and be full of joy from above. Psalm 19:9-10 states, "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."
Second, they bear the Word of God deep in mind and keep it.
The commands written in the Bible are largely divided into four kinds of commands: do, don't, keep, and throw away. We should do what God tells us to do, not do what not to do, keep what to keep, and throw away what to throw away. It is the duty of God's children who love Him. If you truly love God, you will keep the commandments willingly with joy, not against your will.
In 1 John 5:3 it says, "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome." God commands us to keep the Lord's Day holy because we will be happy when we have worship services and keep fellowship with brothers and sisters in faith. Also, when we give a tithe or thanks offering, it should not be from a sense of duty or giving stingily. When we help the needy or when we volunteer for the church's work, we may do so with thanks for the love of God who gave His only begotten Son for us on the cross.
Third, they cherish their God-given duty and work faithfully.
A married couple, Priscilla and Aquila, appear in the Acts of Apostles. They were a great source of strength to Apostle Paul on his second mission trip when he visited Corinth. They provided their house so that believers could gather and Apostle Paul freely preached the gospel. They also helped him set up the Early Church there.
They helped him so faithfully that he introduced them as ones "who for my life risked their own necks, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles" (Romans 16:4). They helped him and devoted themselves to the kingdom of God even without sparing their own lives. Like them, those who come to the Light cherish their God-given duties and fulfill them faithfully regardless of the importance of the duties.
Fourth, they devote even their life to the righteousness and the kingdom of God.
Before Apostle Paul met the Lord, he had persecuted Christians. But after he met the Lord on the way to Damascus, he was renewed. And he confounded the Jews who lived at Damascus by proving that the Lord is the Christ and the Son of God. And he also preached the gospel with all his life in any kind of persecution. Until he was martyred by being beheaded, he was dedicated to the kingdom of God and through his devotion, the gospel later flourished in the Roman Empire which was the center of the world at that time.
If you truly have faith and hope for heaven, you will give thanks and rejoice even under persecutions and preach about the Lord. It is because you believe God will give great rewards in heaven even when it now seems that you are dishonored or persecuted for the Lord (Matthew 5:11-12).
Those who come to the Light are truly beautiful and honorable. Here lies the purpose of God's calling. We are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, and a people for God's own possession. God called us 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 those who come to the Light, God prepares New Jerusalem the best dwelling place in heaven (Revelations 21).
To come to the Light, however, you must come to the church first. Moreover, if you want to meet God and receive His answers and blessings quickly, you need to willingly follow the Light and believe God, not only with the lips but with the heart. We must also act in truthfulness and be unchanging in our ways (Hebrews 10:22).
When we believe God from our hearts, follow the truth, and act in the Light, God will make everything prosper for us and fulfill all promises written in the Bible for us.
3. Blessings for Coming to the Light
Jesus, who came as the Light of the world, taught the truth and preached about the gospel of the kingdom. Those who followed darkness did not have realization, but those who had goodness found their sins through the light of the truth, repented of their sins, and reached salvation.
You can live in Light and let the Spirit give birth to spirit in you if you follow the desire of the Spirit after you accept Jesus Christ and receive the Spirit as a gift.
Then, it would be no problem, even if you lacked wisdom or strength. It is because you can communicate with God who is Light, hear the Holy Spirit's voice, receive His guidance, and thereby can be led to prosperity in everything and can receive the wisdom from above. No matter how intricate your problem may be, the Spirit will let you know the way out. Thus, you will have no obstacle before you, and even if there is, you can avoid it.
As 1 Corinthians 3:18 says, "…If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise." The wisdom of the world is foolish. But to the extent that we become sanctified and come more to the Light, we can receive the wisdom and understanding from above more as James 3:17 reads, "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy."
In addition, when you walk in the Light, you will feel happy even if you have nothing. You will not feel short even if you lack many things. Philippians 4:11 reads, "Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am." When you walk in the Light, you can have peace with God and peace and joy in your hearts. You will have peace with all people, will not break peace with others, and will keep saying words of love, grace, and thanksgiving.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, if you love God who is Light, I urge you to cast off darkness and come to the Light every day. I pray in the name of the Lord that by doing so you will enjoy prosperous lives on the earth as children of Light and live forever happily and joyfully in New Jerusalem.
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