Do you Recognize the Light of the World?
The North Star
Polaris has been used for centuries for navigation. The North Star is one of the brightest stars in the night sky. If you can find Polaris in the night sky, you can know where North is. That’s why it’s called the North star. If you can’t easily identify it but you can identify the big dipper, you can follow a line from the two stars of the big dipper and it points to the North star. And once you find the North Star it can help you navigate your way, because once you know where North is, you also know where East, South, and West are also.
Planetary Story
When I was a kid we went to a planetary, I think it might have been at Richland College. They had a question answer portion of the show and the question was asked about the North Star. The director said I’ll show an interesting fact about the North Star. So he took his pointer and pointed at the North star to help us locate it, then said if we speed up the rotation of the Earth, you’ll see what the North Star and the other stars do. So as he sped up the machine’s ration you could easily see the North Star stayed in its place while all of the other stars swirled around it. It was very eye opening to me that the North Star stayed in its place while the other stars rotated around it and helped me recognize that it was a true guiding light in the night’s sky.
John 8:12-20 I am the light of the world!
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.”
Throughout history, people were walking in darkness and were promised a great light. A prophecy was given in Isaiah that a messiah would be given to save the people. It’s very interesting how that prophecy was given…
Isaiah 9:2 Prophecy of the light
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
Jesus is the light of the world, the guiding star, the one prophesied in Scripture that would come!
John 1:1-5 The light of all mankind - shines in the darkness
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
The light overcomes darkness, and the light of Jesus overcomes the darkness of sin.
So the darkness the Bible is talking about is spiritual darkness!
I recently saw a YouTube video talking about the North Star! I didn’t know this but it’s actually three stars. Two bigger stars revolve around each other and a smaller star revolves around those two bigger stars. Yes, three stars in one! Reminds me of the Trinity. One God, three persons! Perhaps, because they are three stars, is why it appears so much brighter in the night’s sky!
Yet even though Jesus was that great light, many in the world did not recognize Him!
John 1:9-14 True light not recognized, but some did
The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
So why don’t people recognize Him and follow the light? It’s because of sin!
Matthew 6:23 Are you full of darkness?
But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
Some people follow darkness instead of the light. At night, your porch light might have several moths around it, and yeah that can be annoying, but they know they must follow the light and so when they see a light they go to it! Many of us are not that smart. Instead, some people love darkness and they go to it to their destruction! Sin leads to death! Don’t go that way!!! We should be like the moths and seek out the light not the darkness!
John 3:19-21
This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
We saw the eclipse recently and it was an amazing sight! Of course you must wear eclipse glasses or you’ll burn your eyes out! However, it was a moment of distress for many pets. The news said they recommended bringing your pets indoors during that time to keep them calm. Many people in ancient times saw the eclipse as a bad omen especially because darkness fell over the land. People understand even back then by nature knew that darkness was a bad thing and the light is a good thing!
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. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 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.
When the Jews wandered in the wilderness, how were they led? See they call it wandering in the wilderness but they weren’t just wandering around aimlessly, they were very much led by God. And how did God lead them in the wilderness? He led them with a bright pillar of fire by night and a lighted cloud in the daytime. Just imagine how fantastic that would have been to see back then! Yet oddly many took it for granted. Would you? Or would you be amazed and realize this is something special not to be disregarded? Similarly with Jesus, His death, burial, and resurrection, people will often take for granted and they don’t see that this is something very amazing and special that is not to be disregarded! How can anyone take for granted and disregard the resurrection of Jesus and not recognize that He is something special?!!!! I just don’t understand how people can do that!
Right before Passover, Jesus told the people this…
John 12:35-36 walk while you have the light
35 Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. 36 Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
If you’re sad about the way things are going these days and the darkness of sin all around, I feel you! We are all just holding on to the Bible and each other knowing that one day, Jesus will return and restore all things! When He comes back it will be glorious! He will come back like a bright shining sun comes beaming in at the morning right in the window and fills the whole room!
2 Peter 1:19 Morning Star arises in your hearts
19 We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
Imagine that when Jesus comes back how it will be. We won’t be looking for perpetual motion machines or fusion or anything. There won’t be any need even for the sun. We’ll have plenty of light!
Revelation 21:23
23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.
Are you full of darkness or do you recognize the light as the guiding star?!
Turn your eyes upon Jesus!
Jesus is that great light and in Him there is no darkness at all.
Do you have darkness in your heart? The light of Jesus can drive it all away!
Are you lost in the darkness of this world? Jesus can save you, He’s the only one who can!
