Jesus: The Light of lifeSpeaker: Dr. Paul Dhinakaran Gist: Many times, we are surrounded by hopelessness and we cry out, "Oh! I have lost everything; I have nobody to console me; I can see only darkness everywhere." But God knows to comfort us. Jesus tells in John 11:9,10, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him." The Bible tells us in Ecclesiastes 11:8, "But if a man lives many years And rejoices in them all, yet let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many."
Look at God's servant Job. He lived as a righteous man. He was physically attractive and had all prosperity in the world. He had sons and daughters; camels and donkeys, cows were in plenty. He was enjoying the signs of 'day'. But suddenly, the darkness of night fell on him. He lost his wealth and freedom. His sons and daughters died in a day. At this juncture, three of his friends came and began finding fault with him. Job could not be consoled. Finally, even his wife despised him saying, "Why are you so firm on your principles? Curse the God you worship, and then die." He also got a terrible illness in his body due to which he sat scratching himself with a potsherd all the time. In Job 30:26, we find him crying out, "Oh! When I waited for light, then came darkness."
A young man was working with my father. Everyday, he used to dress so well for work. He had a gold chain round his neck and a gold wristband too. Everybody said, "What problem can he have? He is the son of a very rich gold merchant. He has prosperity all over the town. How gifted he is! He need not work at all." A day came when his father, mother, wife, children, brother and sister-in-law left for their relatives wedding in a car. When they were returning happily after the wedding, they had to cross over a bridge. As they were crossing the bridge, suddenly the water level in the river underneath began to rise. The water got so intense that it toppled the car. In just one day, the whole family came to a tragic end. In a single day, darkness surrounded the young man's life. "Oh! I have lost everybody. What do I have in life to live for?" he wailed.
My dear friend, many times when we are surrounded by hopelessness, we cry out, "Oh! I have lost everything; I have no hope; I have nobody to console me; I can see only darkness everywhere. What more do I have in life to live for!" This darkness can never be extinguished. We may have to face similar circumstances in life. Jesus took this darkness upon Himself. He walked through the path of darkness. As He was hanging on the cross, the Roman soldiers tore His clothes and placed a crown of thorns upon His head. Then they drove nails in His feet and hands. His body was filled with the darkness of pain. Not just that, the scribes and elders mocked Him and broke His heart by saying, "He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him" (Matthew 27:41,42). Jesus walked through the darkness of this world. Above all, when He went through this agony, darkness filled the earth for three hours. Darkness surrounded Him too. At that time, distressed, He cried out, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"
Dear friend, are you suffering from hopelessness in this world? Since Jesus Himself went through that path, He understands your situation very well. As said in Colossians 2:14, He has conquered the power of darkness by nailing it to the cross. That is why He tells us in John 8:12, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." Let us learn to say like the servant of God who cries out in Micah 7:8, "Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; When I fall, I will arise; When I sit in darkness, The Lord will be a light to me."
Our life is filled with darkness in this world. But we have Jesus our light, who has walked through the path of darkness and has conquered it. He will not forsake us. We cannot live alone in this dark world. Let us give our lives to God today and attain the light of life. The Lord who knows our tears and sorrows will surely help us. Our darkness will fade away. May your life be radiant with Jesus, the light of life.
Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus,
You have traversed the path of uttermost darkness when You lived on this earth. You have won the victory over all the powers of darkness. You know all my anxieties and the darkness in my life. You alone can remove the darkness from my life. Lord, I open my heart for You. I welcome You to enter my life and take total control of mind, soul and body. Committing myself into Your hands, I submit my prayer in Your magnificent name.
Amen. |