Let light shine out of darkness

Article for Sunday December 7, 2025

John 1:1–5 1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Darkness is equated to sin, and we know that sin carries the penalty of death.  This death we speak of, is an eternal separation from God and all believers. Going back to darkness we should know that there are no degrees of darkness as there truly are no degrees of sin when you consider punishment for all sin is death.  Many fear complete darkness because it blinds you. When you are in total darkness you cannot see past your nose, in fact you cannot see your nose.

Other than the obvious some differences between light and dark should be realized.  Darkness cannot be shut off or on.  Light can be turned on or off and adjusted to different degrees of light.  Light can however overcome darkness, where darkness cannot overcome light.  So, to turn light off permanently would result in eternal darkness which would be a scary means to live in.

Another way to look at one without proper knowledge is to say they are in the dark.  So, it would stand to reason that one who gains knowledge is enlightened and there for they walk in the light.  The knowledge to know and gain is the knowledge that is given to us through the Holy Scripture.  The knowledge that the world gives us is melded in darkness and therefore may not be good for the soul. 

2 Corinthians 4:3–4 3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. 4In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Knowing the gospel is the knowledge we should all hunger for.  Knowing the gospel is knowing God who is the gospel of grace, mercy, forgiveness, love, and everlasting life with God.  There are many in this world who may have read the Holy Scriptures that are blind and cannot see the gospel. 

Those who are perishing are blind to the gospel because the world works to keep them in the darkness.  This is why we should put our faith in our Lord Jesus rather than put our faith in the world.  Do not fall to this deceiving world for the world wants to take you away from God and the gospel.  And the cunning of the world is little white lies that slowly lead you to the big lie.

It all goes back to this, many people make major choices with little, no, or incorrect information.  We are easily deceived by a world who makes their choices based on their selfish desires rather than following or even knowing God and His word of gospel. 

2 Corinthians 4:5–6 5For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Paul calls us to take the light of Jesus Christ and shine it for others to see.  We are sinful as the unbeliever but in us there is the light of Jesus Christ shinning and ready to be shared.  We, who believe have the light, yet we do not shine it for others to see. 

This is not a call to be a braggart.  There are those who make an excuse as they let Jesus light shine forth from them is boasting.  We show the light of Jesus not by what we say but by what we do.  In fact, our boasting and bragging are from the darkness.  No, what I am saying is to show the Light of Jesus in a humbleness that shines through your actions and your words.

Get your bibles out, blow off the dust, and study Jesus Christ.  Yes, Jesus who came in the humbleness of a child born of Mary.  Jesus did not brag once that He was the Son of God.  If you look through the four gospels, Jesus called Himself the “Son of man” approximately 79 times in the New Testament.  Jesus did everything including washing the feet of the disciples and dying on the cross in pure humbleness.

John 1:6–9 6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.  9The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

      We can bear witness that Jesus Christ died on the cross for everyone’s sin.  And the light of Jesus does not just shine upon those who believe but it shines on everyone.  But this exposer to the light of Jesus shines greater on all who believe and will believe.  For the light that shines in us draws us to it and gives us the promise of eternal life.  Amen.

      Written by Pastor Curtis May