John 12:36
While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.
Jesus is called the Light of the World, the light that lighteth every man, and a light for the Gentiles. Not only is He the light of this world, but He is also the light of the world to come. When He spoke to the crowd gathered before Him in this verse, they truly had light—the greatest light of all: the Light of the world, the light of eternity, the light that sustained their very existence. Yet, despite having the Light of the world speaking to them, they remained blind.
They were unable to perceive the light, or perhaps they shrank from it because their deeds were evil, and they preferred darkness. But at the heart of their blindness was unbelief.
Jesus' next words to them were, "Believe in the light." It wasn’t a matter of sight or understanding that hindered them—it was unbelief. The Bible is clear that unbelief blinds men. “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).
Notice who is blind to the light of the gospel: “them which believe not.” In the previous chapter of 2 Corinthians, Paul explains that unbelieving Jews have a veil on their hearts, preventing them from seeing Christ in the Scriptures. They are literally blind to the obvious revelation of Him in those Scriptures. But when they believe in Christ, that veil is removed.
Jesus identified Israel’s leaders’ problem as unbelief when He told them, “For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me.” My point is this: light comes to us, and only unbelief keeps us blinded to the light of God.
Jesus is the Light, but He is not the only light. Light is revelation. Jesus was the ultimate revelation of God, but we live in a world full of light and evidence of God.
We have the light within us—our conscience—which gives us some understanding of right and wrong. This is what makes a man feel guilty for wrongdoing. There is a universal law written on every human heart that declares lying is wrong, killing is wrong, and love is virtuous. From a very early age, we can nurture this light by believing and obeying it, or we can transgress it, refusing to believe that what we are doing is truly wrong. Through unbelief, we justify what we knew deep down to be sin.
We also have the light of creation. The very fact that we live in a creation points to a Creator. Yet, in this hour, men do their best to explain away the Creator, making fools of themselves in the process. They refuse to live in the light of this Creator because if there is a Creator, then we are accountable to Him. They refuse the light within them and the light all around them.
Then, we have the light of Scripture. It is no surprise that once a man has rejected the God-given light within and the God-given light without, he also rejects the greater light of the Scripture.
We haven’t even touched on the light of the Church or all the ways Jesus is the Light. But the fact remains: God gives light, and men refuse to believe what is so clearly set before them.
Jesus tells us the benefit of believing, of coming to the light: “Ye shall be children of the light.” Obeying your conscience will not make you a child of God, nor will believing in a Creator, or even adherence to biblical principles. Only coming to the Light—Jesus Christ—will save you, (John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:).
I am all for nurturing your conscience, marveling at creation, and adhering to Scripture. But none of those lesser lights can save you. However, they will lead you to the saving light of Jesus Christ. This is especially important for those raising children. Encourage and strengthen the light they have at an early age. Instill morals, speak of God’s magnificent creation, and read the Bible to them. All of this light will guide them to the Light of the World—Jesus Christ. Then, when they grow accustomed to coming to the light, they will have an easier time coming to the Light of Jesus. Through repentance and faith, Jesus will save them and make them children of God.
In closing, note the urgency: “While ye have light.” There is coming an hour when the little light you see will vanish. After Jesus spoke these words, He departed and hid Himself. Millions have experienced this same moment—a time when the light of the world was before them, calling them to come. But they let the hour of His visitation pass them by. Today, they live in darkness. The Bible no longer affects them. The preaching of the Word no longer stirs them. That hour of His visitation seems to them nothing more than a fleeting moment of madness. Yet, in reality, it was a glimpse of eternity, and they let it slip away in unbelief.
If He is dealing with your heart this hour, won’t you believe while you can and be made a child of the Light? “While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light.”
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