Inheritance of the Saints in Light

And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. - Revelations 22:5

There are four books in the Bible which talk about the life of Jesus Christ. We call those books as The Gospels. Out of which Matthew, Mark and Luke together are known as Synoptic Gospels, because they include many of the same incidents, often in a similar sequence and in similar wording; and two gospels written by Matthew and Luke narrate us the birth and genealogy of Jesus Christ. We need to understand that Christmas is not the birth of God. It’s not the starting point of his existence, but Christmas is the day when God took the form of a man. Hence I guess John started his gospel with the genealogy and the birth of Jesus on a different note.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.

Matthew starts with, Jesus being a descendant of David, who was a descendant of Abraham (Matt 1:1). Luke traces the Lord’s human genealogy back to Adam (Luke 3:38). But John traces the Lord’s genealogy way back to “the beginning” (John 1:1). John is purposely recalling the words of Genesis 1:1 here to let us know that the Lord’s origins go back to eternity past. He is the “Alpha and Omega” (Rev.1:8; 1:11; 21:6; 22:13), the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. In other words, He was there in the beginning, and He’ll be there at the end and for everlasting!

Moses mentions that, even before the mountains were born and even before the earth and the world were created, God existed from everlasting to everlasting (Psalm 90:2). The Lord is from ancient times (Micah 5:2). He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together (Colossians 1:17). Hence John says “Through him God made all things; not one thing in all creation was made without him.” He was filled with glory of the presence of God, even before the world began (John 17:5). 

(In this “beginning” there already “was” the Word. (See expressions of this thought in John 17:5; Proverbs 8:23; 1John 1:1; Revelation 3:14.))

So God’s existence did not start on the Christmas day, but way long before that. He is the source of life and from him flows the fountain of life (Psalm 36:9). Jesus says “I am the way, the truth, and the life:” He rewards his people with long life (Psalm 91:16) and his promises give life (Psalm 119:50). In him is everlasting life (John 3:16) (1 John 2:25). The words he speak are life (John 6:63). He is the resurrection and the life (John 11:25). This is what God told us: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son (1 John 5:11) and that life brought light to people. The light shined in the darkness but the darkness did not understand it.

Before we try to understand what kind of light was brought to people, we need to understand what kind of darkness John is talking about. In the beginning when God created the universe, the earth was covered with darkness. Then God commanded, “Let there be light”—and light appeared. God also made great lights like the Sun, Moon and the Stars in sky to give light on the earth. This was done in order to separate light from darkness. Strangely, man also wanted to separate light from darkness and out of that, man discovered fire, another form of light, to light up his nights and the darkness. It was not until 1879 when the electric light bulb was invented and our world has been brighter ever since. But when John said “He is the source of life and that life brought light to people” what is this kind of light is he talking about?

After man was created by God, lured by Satan, man chose to break Gods commandment. From then, sin entered man’s life and made his heart dark. Darkness is the symbol of sin and the power of Satan (Acts 26:18).

Ever since God created the world, his eternal power and divine nature had been perceived in the things that God has made. Man knows God, but they do not give him the honor that belongs to him, nor do they thank him. Instead, their thoughts have become complete nonsense, and their empty minds are filled with darkness (they worship and serve what God has created instead of the Creator himself) (Romans 1).

Out of the darkness we did what not. We revolted against our Creator. We broke the covenant we had with God. Out of our hearts came unfruitful deeds of darkness. Our sinful thoughts, sight, deeds and sinful path filled our hearts and spiritual bodies with darkness. (Ref Luke 11:34). We chose the way of the wicked, which is like deep darkness and did not know over what we stumbled (Proverbs 4:19).

The Lord saw that the wickedness (depravity) of man was great on the earth, and that every imagination or intent of the thoughts of his heart were only evil continually. The Lord regretted that He had made mankind on the earth, and He was [deeply] grieved in His heart. - Gen 5:5-7.

God looked on the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth. - Genesis 6:12.

For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders... - Mark 7:21.

We served the god of this world (Satan) with our worthless and unproductive deeds. Our eyes were blinded and our spiritual darkness made us slaves and prisoners in misery and chains. When the Creator looked at the earth, it was a barren waste and at the sky, there was no light (Jeremiah 4:23).

Because of the ignorance and spiritual blindness that is within us and because of the hardness and insensitivity of our heart, our moral understanding was darkened and our reasoning was clouded; we have alienated and have self –banished ourselves from the life of God (Eph 4:17-18). We were cursed and our lands were filled with darkness and deep shadow of death.

It is not a glorious picture. Though we physically stand up straight firm as if nothing is wrong with us, spiritually we are chained to an iron ball called sin, kept in a dark dungeon where not a single ray of light can penetrate. Because of our sins, we spiritually stink and are unclean like a leper. The Bible says “…everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin…” (John 8:34) and as long as we sin, we are subjected to the yoke of slavery (Gal 5:1).

Who is going to save us from this spiritual darkness? Well! We have the greater lights in the sky which are the sun, moon and the stars. Though they illuminate a great amount of light and brightness to earth, unfortunately these great lights would not be able to help us with our deep spiritual darkness, because one day, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not provide its light, and the stars will fall from the sky (Matt 24:29 / Acts 2:20). What about the electric bulbs we invented? What about these flood lights around us? Would these lights helps us with the spiritual darkness in our hearts? These lights would physically help us not to stumble, but not with our spiritual stumbleness. None of the different form of lights we know, is going to save from the spiritual darkness we are enslaved to.

That was when God, who was the source of life brought light to man through Jesus, the Messiah. Though we did not give him the honor he deserves, he still remembered us. He promised us through the prophets that he would save us.

“I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;

I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth.

These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.” Isaiah 42:16

The promised Messiah would shine upon us who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace and serenity (Luke 1:79). He is light and in Him there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5-6). Jesus said "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12). Jesus came into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Him should remain in darkness (John 12:46).

There was a person (John, the Baptist) sent by God, to be a witness and to testify about this Light (which is Jesus), so that all might believe. The true light (which is Jesus) was coming into the world. This is the true light that gives light to all people. Yes! The mission behind Christmas is to give light to all the people. Jesus was sent to announce release (pardon, forgiveness) to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, and to set free those who are oppressed (downtrodden, bruised, crushed by tragedy)… (Luke 4:18/Isaiah 61:1-2).

But when the light shined in the darkness, the darkness did not understand it. When Jesus came to this world, do you think he was welcomed? There was no room for his parents to stay in the inn, because of which his mother gave birth to Jesus in a stable. When Jesus was born, the people of Jerusalem were upset/disturbed/troubled and King Herod wanted to kill him. When Jesus was teaching in the synagogue at Nazareth (his hometown), the people took Jesus to the edge of the hill to throw him off (Luke 4:16-30/Mark 6:1-6). When Jesus came to the territory of Gadara, he healed two men from demons within them. And when the whole town knew this, they begged Jesus to leave their territory (Matt 8:28-34). The Word was already in the world. The world was made through him, but the world did not know him. He came to the world that was his own. And his own people did not accept him. We chose a murdered (Barabbas) over our Savior (Luke 23:13-25) and we handovered our Messiah to the cross.

Because of the darkness in our hearts, we did not understand him. We chose darkness over light. We chose to reject the light, because all things become visible when they are exposed by light, for it is light that makes everything visible (Eph 5:13). We did not want the light to expose our dark sins and unclean leper sores. For every wrongdoer hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his activities will be exposed and condemned (John 3:20). When Jesus exposed the religious leader’s hypocrisy, inner tombs and their mistakes, instead of accepting their sins, they were plotting to arrest and kill him. Jesus Rebukes the Pharisees and Scribes (Luke 11:37-54), The Jewish Leaders Plan to Kill Jesus (John 11:45-57), Jesus Condemns the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law of Moses (Matthew 23:1-36).

But some people did accept him. They believed in him, and he gave them the right to become children of God. They became God’s children, but not in the way babies are usually born. It was not because of any human desire or plan. They were born from God himself.

Now it’s time for us to realize about our dark deeds and we need to know we are going nowhere with that. There is a day when we have to answer for all our sins. We have another option though. Though we are not worth, our Creator came to this world to save us from our sins. The Word became a man and lived among us. We saw his divine greatness—the greatness that belongs to the only Son of the Father. The Word was full of grace and truth. Jesus is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world and He is the Son of God. Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ and from him we all received one blessing after another.

God made us free from the power of darkness. And he brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son. The Son paid the price to make us free. In him we have forgiveness of our sins (Colossians 1:13-14). God once said, “Let light shine out of the darkness!”[Gen 1:3] And this is the same God who made his light shine in our hearts to let us know that his own divine greatness is seen in the face of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6). David praises the LORD for rescuing him from all his enemies and from the hand of Saul “…Lord, you provide the flame for my lamp. You, God, turn the darkness around me into light” (Psalm 18:28).

Jesus Christ is the only one who can turn our darkness into light. The moment we accept Him, our sins are forgiven, our unclean leper sores are cured and we become His children, the children of light. We need to understand the truth and turn away from the darkness to the light. We have to turn away from the power of Satan, and turn to God. Our sins can be forgiven and we can be placed among God's people-those who have been made holy by believing in Him ((Acts 26:18) Paul Tells About Seeing Jesus).

Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near (Isaiah 55:6). When Jesus was speaking about his death, he said, “The light will be among you a little longer. Continue on your way while you have the light, so that the darkness will not come upon you; for the one who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. Believe in the light, then, while you have it, so that you will be the people of the light” John 12:35-36 (Jesus Speaks about His Death).

Brothers and sisters, you are not living in darkness. And so that day will not surprise you like a thief. You are all people who belong to the light. You belong to the day. We don’t belong to the night or to darkness (1 Thessalonians 5:4-5). And since we belong to the day, we should control ourselves. We should wear faith and love to protect us. And the hope of salvation should be our helmet. God did not choose us to suffer his anger. God chose us to have salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus died for us so that we can live together with him… (1 Thessalonians 5:8-11)...if we say that we share in life with God, but we continue living in darkness, we are liars, who don’t follow the truth (1 John 1:6).

Remember, you are not the same as those who choose darkness. So don't join yourselves with them. Good and evil don't belong together. Light and darkness cannot share the same room. How can there be any unity between Christ and the devil? (2 Cor 6:14-15).

The night is almost finished. The day is almost here. So we should stop doing whatever belongs to darkness. We should prepare ourselves to fight evil with the weapons that belong to the light. We should live in a right way, like people who belong to the day. We should not have wild parties or be drunk. We should not be involved in sexual sin or any kind of immoral behavior. We should not cause arguments and trouble or be jealous. But be like the Lord Jesus Christ, so that when people see what you do, they will see Christ. Don’t think about how to satisfy the desires of your sinful self (Romans 13:12).

We should live in the light, where God is. If we live in the light, we have fellowship with each other, and the blood sacrifice of Jesus, God’s Son, washes away every sin and makes us clean (1 John 1:7).

On the Christmas day, we light candles. It resembles that, Jesus is the Light of the world and personally, he is the light of your life. His birth brought light to mankind. We can fill our dark lives with his light and live as his children. Let us not go home only with the lit candles, but let’s light our hearts.

Jesus said “You are the light that shines for the world to see. You are like a city built on a hill that cannot be hidden. People don’t hide a lamp under a bowl. They put it on a lampstand. Then the light shines for everyone in the house. In the same way, you should be a light for other people. Live so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven (The Sermon on the Mount. Matt 5:14-16), so that you may be partakers of what was promised to his holy people, who live in the light (Col 1:12).

Shalom.