Living in the LIGHT or Darkness? - Know Where You are Going.
Dear Saints:
This Christmas, we celebrate the birth of the baby Jesus. What a wonderful time it is. Today, we meet the grown up Jesus in our study of John 12 (please read the entire chapter). He's coming into Jerusalem and riding on a donkey.
It's quite a different picture when you merge the two together and the questions that arise. We love and adore babies because they are harmless, tender and need our help. We approach adults differently. We are questioning adults and suspicious of them and asking who are you.
Are you as generous to baby Jesus as you are to the adult Jesus? Unfortunately in our world today many would celebrate Christmas, the baby Jesus but can't tolerate the grown Jesus. Why?
The King, the grown up Jesus makes demand of us. He speaks for himself and tells us who he is. He is making very clear His purpose and declaring that He is God. People then and now do not want to hear the grown up Jesus.
Listen to Jesus’ exchange with the crowd that a minute ago was shouting hosanna and now asking who are you.
“31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” 33 This He said, signifying by what death He would die. 34 The people answered Him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?” John 12:31-34.
Oh yes, the Jesus of Christmas is still the same Jesus of Easter. Jesus had forever existed before He was born into this world by a virgin through the power of the Holy Spirit, He lived a perfect life, was crucified, buried, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven where He came from.
This real question then and now is, Who is Jesus to you and what will you do with Him? Here is Jesus’ response to the crowd:
“35 Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” John 12:35-36.
We have limited time to decide for Jesus and to live for Him in His Light while we are still alive. There is no place for purgatory or a clean-up place after we die. Not to believe and live for Jesus is to live in darkness because you can’t see where you are going.
We should start seeing ourselves and people differently with the lenses of light vs. darkness. When you see someone who does not believe in Christ, he/she is in darkness and demands our compassion, prayers and conversations about Christ. The unbelieving does not know where he or she is going and without trusting in the Savior Jesus Christ, will remain in darkness and in hell.
Jesus is already lifted up (he has already died and risen). Can we help through the presentation and living out the Gospel, draw people to Jesus? The Gospel, the good news speaks for itself and draws people to Jesus.
Simply, the message of the Gospel is that we have all sinned, enemies of God and now can be reconciled and accepted by God because Jesus lived the perfect life for us; died for the forgiveness of our sins and has imputed for us His righteousness. There is no better news than the Gospel. My sins are forgiven forever, so that I can live to honor God now and forever. Unfortunately, many have not had it explained to them. Will you?
Have you become a son [daughter] of the Light by believing and trusting in Christ? Are you living in the LIGHT or Darkness? Lord, please have mercy on us and open our eyes and heart to you, the LIGHT. Amen.
This Christmas, we celebrate the birth of the baby Jesus. What a wonderful time it is. Today, we meet the grown up Jesus in our study of John 12 (please read the entire chapter). He's coming into Jerusalem and riding on a donkey.
It's quite a different picture when you merge the two together and the questions that arise. We love and adore babies because they are harmless, tender and need our help. We approach adults differently. We are questioning adults and suspicious of them and asking who are you.
Are you as generous to baby Jesus as you are to the adult Jesus? Unfortunately in our world today many would celebrate Christmas, the baby Jesus but can't tolerate the grown Jesus. Why?
The King, the grown up Jesus makes demand of us. He speaks for himself and tells us who he is. He is making very clear His purpose and declaring that He is God. People then and now do not want to hear the grown up Jesus.
Listen to Jesus’ exchange with the crowd that a minute ago was shouting hosanna and now asking who are you.
“31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” 33 This He said, signifying by what death He would die. 34 The people answered Him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?” John 12:31-34.
Oh yes, the Jesus of Christmas is still the same Jesus of Easter. Jesus had forever existed before He was born into this world by a virgin through the power of the Holy Spirit, He lived a perfect life, was crucified, buried, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven where He came from.
This real question then and now is, Who is Jesus to you and what will you do with Him? Here is Jesus’ response to the crowd:
“35 Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” John 12:35-36.
We have limited time to decide for Jesus and to live for Him in His Light while we are still alive. There is no place for purgatory or a clean-up place after we die. Not to believe and live for Jesus is to live in darkness because you can’t see where you are going.
We should start seeing ourselves and people differently with the lenses of light vs. darkness. When you see someone who does not believe in Christ, he/she is in darkness and demands our compassion, prayers and conversations about Christ. The unbelieving does not know where he or she is going and without trusting in the Savior Jesus Christ, will remain in darkness and in hell.
Jesus is already lifted up (he has already died and risen). Can we help through the presentation and living out the Gospel, draw people to Jesus? The Gospel, the good news speaks for itself and draws people to Jesus.
Simply, the message of the Gospel is that we have all sinned, enemies of God and now can be reconciled and accepted by God because Jesus lived the perfect life for us; died for the forgiveness of our sins and has imputed for us His righteousness. There is no better news than the Gospel. My sins are forgiven forever, so that I can live to honor God now and forever. Unfortunately, many have not had it explained to them. Will you?
Have you become a son [daughter] of the Light by believing and trusting in Christ? Are you living in the LIGHT or Darkness? Lord, please have mercy on us and open our eyes and heart to you, the LIGHT. Amen.
Comments