THE LIGHT OF LIFE (1)

“I AM the LIGHT of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the LIGHT of LIFE” – John 8:12b

Our Lord Jesus Christ, the True Light, also revealed Himself as the Embodiment of the LIGHT of LIFE: "Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I AM the LIGHT of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the LIGHT of LIFE” (Jh.8:12). John had earlier introduced the pre-existent Lord as follows: “In Him was LIFE, and the LIFE was the LIGHT of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (Jh.1:4-5). Jesus Christ is the Source of Light and Life for all humankind. He came into His creation to bring Light, defeat darkness, and restore Life. As we follow Him, the “Light of the World” becomes for us personally, “The Light of Life”!

Jesus Christ is the uncreated Eternal Light of God, Whose Life is not derived from another source, nor depends upon anyone or anything. The Son, along with the Father and Holy Spirit, is the One through Whom all things – including you and I – were made (Jh.1:3). We are not our own source of light and life. Though we often idolize and aspire to be so-called “self-made” men and women, free from constraints and obligations to others, our lives simply are not our own. In these scriptures, we are given an invitation to LIVE LIFE to the FULLEST, as God ordained and longs for it to be lived. The only way to have and enjoy Abundant Life is to be filled with the LIGHT of Christ.

Simple as this may sound, most human beings spend their lives trying to disprove this eternal truth! They seek out fulfilment in career, work, food, drinks, entertainment, sensual pleasures, possessions, and popularity, believing these will lead them into the fullness of life that we know in the core of our being that we are made to experience. Yet each of these is a shadow and illusion, and placing hopes in them leads into deeper darkness, not light. Unfortunately, it is entirely possible to go through decades of existence without ever really and truly living!

The Lord longs to fill us with HIS LIGHT so that we can experience Fullness of LIFE. That’s the essence of the LIGHT of LIFE. We who believe in Christ no longer have any alliance with darkness: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a GREAT LIGHT; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a LIGHT has shined” (Isa.9:2). That’s Jesus, the True Light, the Light of the world, the LIGHT of LIFE. May the Lord open our hearts to receive Him as the Light of Life, and begin to truly live as we were made to live! May He fill us with His Light and Life that we might be set aflame with passion for Him and love for others, in Jesus’ Name. Amen!