“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and th
e Word was God. …In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” (John 1:1, 4)
Having grown up in a religious home, I became aware of certain Biblical concepts: the idea of a creator God, a child born in Bethlehem, the savior of the world, sin, and guilt. It is one thing, however, to understand a concept, and still another to know the person who invented the concept. There is a light that is external to us as fallen sinners, and there is still another that can be found in the depths of our own soul.
“I’ve seen the light” is not just something that people say who think themselves brighter than everyone else. As for myself, there is no doubt in my mind that apart from the grace of God my heart is wicked and worthy of an eternity in hell. Inner light cannot be learned in a religious school but must be received as a gift from a God of grace and mercy. Once the light of God is received it will always light the way home.
The year was 1978, and my wife and I drove an hour up to Rochester, New York, on a Sunday, so that I could preach in a Rescue Mission. After delivering a message and spending some time with the men, and the director and his wife, who were friends of ours and graduates of the same school, we went to drive home. It was determined that the alternator on our car was no good, and we might make it home if we did not use the heater and the lights.
We had blankets and were used to cold weather, so going without heat was considered endurable. Nevertheless, driving without lights could be deadly on dark country roads. After saying a prayer, we started out for home, and as the lights of the city began to fade into the distance, the road to our surprise was lit all the way home. A thin layer of white snow was spread on all the grass, which made a stark contrast from the black road. The moon was fat like a large pizza, God was seated on His throne in the heavens, and we were benefiting from the lesser light He had made to govern the night.
“Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” (John 8:12)
If you’re interested in a closeup look at the most important person in all of human history, and the only person that can give you the light you need, check out my book, THE JESUS YOU NEED TO KNOW.