Hope for Today's Heart: Jesus is light

Saturday, April 6, 2019

Where are you When the Lights go Out?

John 8:12

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

1 John 1:6-7
If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

As I chatted with my co-worker in her office, the lights flickered out. Electric all over campus shut off. As soon as we realized what happened, we walked to the main room of the library. No storm brewed outside, instead sunlight flooded the sky lights. Two florescent lights stayed on due to a generator. Students wondered what to do. We directed a few to hang in there until we figured out what was going on. Then, one young man stepped in and went straight to the only table with a light. He unpacked his backpack, sat down with his textbook and started to read. He knew what to do—follow the light.

Every day darkness overwhelms us. If you watch the news, you see people who hate and kill. We read about people who bring harm to others or themselves. Illness and circumstances bring grief. The constant focus on politics and who has said what is just plain irritating. If we'd let ourselves, we could sit in the dark of sin every day. But we don't have to. There is a light that shines to bring hope and love to this world. Jesus is the light. He shines brighter than any darkness Satan can throw over us. Like the young man in our library, let's walk toward the light and focus on our Lord and Savior—Jesus. He is the light that shines in the darkest hour. He is our hope!

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” ― Martin Luther King Jr.

Saturday, June 11, 2016

My Lighthouse

1 John 1:5-7
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

The lighthouse rose from the shore of Lake Erie; a signal to boats that land was near. Marblehead Lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse in continuous operation on all of the Great Lakes. The 300 mm lens shines a green signal that flashes every six seconds. Without the light at night, boats would crash into the limestone along the shore, causing disaster and possibly death.

I love lighthouses. To me they represent the hope I find in Jesus, in a dark and difficult world. Without Jesus light I'd be floating in troubled water, not sure where I might crash. Sadness and sin are all around me. When I read the news or watch television, I'm sick from the desolation and destruction people create. That's why in all the sadness and frustration, I seek the true light, the one who gives me hope and joy. Jesus is the light that cannot be extinguished. His light of hope is eternal. So even in the midst of darkness I can walk with Him. Praise God for the light of Jesus!