A Light In The Darkness

And my theory is that sin responds to light – just like a cockroach does. People who are living in sin will often make as furious an attempt to get back under the cover of darkness when somebody hits the lights – as that cockroach does. Let me ask you – when’s the last time you ever saw a brightly lit bar or nightclub? Why is it so dark in those places? Are they that environmentally conscious – that you’re trying to conserve electricity? Or, is there something about sin and darkness that just seem to go hand-in-hand? Jesus said, “Men loved the darkness” Why? “Because their deeds were evil!” (John 3:19) So, I don’t know how profound I am philosophically or theologically. But, I think sin’s a lot like a cockroach. It hates to have an intense beam of light shinned on it. And people who are living in sin. . .profiting off of sin. . .promoting an agenda of sin – will fight like mad to preserve the darkness if things get too bright. They hate the light – and they’ll do everything they can to reclaim the darkness.

The first thing that the coming of the Light marked in our world was the reality of judgment. No longer could men keep their sin safely hidden under the cloak of darkness. And Jesus went on to say in that same passage, “But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” (John 3:21) We often use the word “judgment” in a very negative context. But God’s judgment is also going to expose the good. . .righteous. . .pure. . .holy – as well as the evil. You see, light illuminates the good and the bad.

2. The second thing to note is that THE COMING OF THE LIGHT MARKED THE DAWN OF SLAVATION.

The prophet Isaiah joyfully proclaimed, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.” (Isaiah 60:1). And Paul said, “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 4:6)

You know, a wonderful thing happened when Jesus came into the world. Something that totally revolutionized man’s relationship with God occurred. You see, I’ve been asked the question before, “Pastor, how did people get saved before Jesus came? What happened to all those people who lived and died before Christ? Was there any way for them to go to heaven?”

Well, the answer is, “Yes.” Yes, there was a way for them to get to heaven. But it wasn’t salvation like we know it. It wasn’t a very good way. . .enjoyable way. . .pleasant way. But, there was a way for people to know God. It was called – Salvation through the Law. And it involved Forgiveness by Sacrifice. The only way I could really serve God and please God following the fall in the garden – but prior to the birth of Christ – was by a strict observance to the Old Testament law. And, the only way I could gain forgiveness for my sins – was to offer the prescribed animal sacrifices ever year in accordance with that law. You see, it wasn’t a very fulfilling way of knowing God. And, it wasn’t one of those things that often gave me a warm, fuzzy feeling. But it was the best method there was before Christ came. The O.T. religion and ritual left a lot to be desired, to be real honest with you. Because there wasn’t that intimacy of having a personal relationship with God that you and I can have today. But, it worked for those people who lived then. And, it produced some people with an incredible faith in God, who did have a beautiful saving relationship, I believe, with him.