Following the Light

KEY VERSE: “I am the light of the world.” —John 9:5

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: John 9:1-11, 35-41

IT WAS a dark world into which Jesus came. Darkness still covers the earth, “and gross darkness the people.” (Isa. 60:2) This symbolic darkness is in reality a condition of separateness from God through wicked works. Paul explains that when men wished to forget God he gave them over to their reprobate minds, “and their foolish heart was darkened.” (Rom. 1:21) Nearly all of the human race are thus alienated from God, and the hearts of all being darkened by error and sin, the whole world is inevitably dark; the only light-bearers being those into whose hearts God has shined by the Gospel.

The human race has never been without some measure of “light,” some representation from God. Until the present time, however, darkness has prevailed in every age, and will continue to prevail until the “sun of righteousness” dispels all the mists of superstition and unbelief, and the knowledge of the glory of God fills the earth as the waters cover the sea.

In the antediluvian world there were such representatives of God as Abel, Enoch, and Noah. In the Patriarchal Age there were Melchizedek, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. At the death of Jacob his twelve sons, forming the nucleus of the Jewish nation, became God’s representatives in the earth. Moses was an outstanding leader among the Hebrews, and God gave his Law to them through this faithful servant, and told them that if they obeyed it he would make of them a holy nation and a kingdom of priests.—Exod. 19:6

Israel as a nation reflected but little of the light of God in the earth because the people failed to obey his statutes. Throughout the Jewish Age the prophets God sent to the Israelites were his most brilliant light-bearers. True, at no time prior to the First Advent of Jesus did the light of truth shine out in the earth as distinctly and brightly as it has since; but all the truth which God’s people needed at that time to guide them in the doing of his will was given to his faithful servants, and they thus constituted the light of the world, the only light the world had.

The First Advent of Jesus marked a distinct change in the plan of God, a definite step forward from types and shadows and promises, to the substance which began to fulfill them. The dim light of the past suddenly increased, fulfilling the prophecy which stated that they which “sat in darkness saw a great light.” (Isa. 9:23; Matt. 4:16) The true light of the world had come, the one foretold by the prophets and foreshadowed by the types. Yes, “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.”—John 1:4

When man became alienated from God through sin, and darkness settled down upon the race, the death penalty ensued. But with the coming of Jesus, the “light of life,” there also came a way of escape from death—by faith in this age, and actually, in the age to come. (John 8:12) Jesus “brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel,” or by the light of the Gospel; and before his part in the divine plan of salvation is complete he will have enlightened every man that came into the world.—II Tim. 1:10

But it was not God’s plan for Jesus to remain on the earth during the Gospel Age and continue personally to be the light of the world. Rather, the divine purpose was for the Master to be represented among men by those willing to espouse his cause even to the point of being “beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the Word of God.” (Rev. 20:4) Paul speaks of these as “ambassadors for Christ who serve as ministers of reconciliation.—II Cor. 5:18-20

And what is the purpose of this ministry? Paul explained, saying that “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself.” (II Cor. 5:19) The reconciliation of the world is the ultimate objective of the plan of God.

This work began with the First Advent of Jesus. Paul declared on Mars’ Hill that “now God commandeth all men everywhere to repent.” (Acts 17:31) God foreknew that during this Gospel Age only one here and there would heed the message of repentance, and to these has been extended the invitation to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, to die with him, inspired by the hope that if faithful unto death they will live and reign with him in the kingdom through which all mankind will be enlightened.

How high, indeed, is the standard God has set for those who qualify to serve as the light of the world! Let us endeavor to be faithful to all our privileges. Let us not hide the light under a bushel, but let us continue to hold high the beacon light of truth to guide those who may be seeking after the Lord. It is our privilege to be the light of the world—we are ambassadors of him who is that great light which eventually will lighten every man who has come into the world.

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