A LIGHT OF HOPE

SATURDAY 23 APRIL 2022

God gave us His light as His best gift. And He always intends for us to pass on this light, which is encapsulated in the Good news of the gospel, to others. In view of our referenced Scripture below, its a great testimony that people once walking darkness have witnessed a great light instead of remaining in darkness. A transforming light has dawned on those living in the land of deep darkness.

Reference: Isaiah 9:2 New International Version (NIV) "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned."

Encountering divine light is a good experience because it is the greatest gift from God Himself. A life-changing blessing anyone can receive is to become a heir of the Kingdom of light and function as a possessor of divine light (see Colossians 1:12-13 NLT). Light is a sublime and wonderful possession which the Scripture speaks much about. In fact, the Lord Jesus is referred to as "True light." According to the book of John, there was a man sent from God whose name was John (the Baptist). He came as a witness to testify concerning that true light, so that through Him all might believe. John himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light, Christ!

Beloved, Christ is the true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. John 1:4-5 reads, "In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it"(NIV). As Christians, many of us can remember that turning moment of moving from the domain of darkness to the Kingdom of light because of our salvation experience. With sinful nature, walking in darkness was normal and it was erroneously accepted as a way of life. However, when the light of the glorious gospel permeated our hearts, our spiritual eyes popped open and we welcomed the light of hope. For precisely this reason, 2 Corinthians 4:6 (NIV) says, '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 God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.'

This light also opens our mind to understand the Word of God. The Bible says in Luke 24:45, "Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures" (NIV). Jesus as the true light unveiled the minds of His disciples to grasp the Scriptures. This unveiling of the mind by the true light positions us to access from the Scriptures, the covenant promises of God which have been fulfilled in Jesus Christ, and that is the greatest testimony of every born again Christian. Without a shadow of a doubt, the Scripture is nothing less than the revelation of divine light; it is the written version of the glorious gospel. This is why the light of God shines through our hearts as we pay ardent attention to receiving the Word. In parallel, on account of Psalm 119:130 (NIV), the unfolding of God's Word gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. It's also a light for our path (Psalm 119:105 NLT).

All the greater, 1 Peter 2:9 (ESV) says, "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." Yes this is who we are in Christ Jesus now: Royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, we can show others the goodness of God, for He called us out of the darkness into His wonderful light, which is a light of hope. Showing others God's goodness by sharing the Good news with them is significant of giving them eternal hope and introducing them to everlasting light. Therefore bear this in mind and pay heed to doing so from time to time (Acts 13:47 NIV). Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Luke 2:30-32; John 1:5; Colossians 1:12; John 8:12; 1 John 1:5-7.

Exuberant Declaration: The light of eternity is the revelation of God's supernatural essence in me. I am a product of this light through refined divine encounters. In me is the life of God and this life is the light of men. Therefore, in my world, I bear witness to the efficacy of Kingdom light, proclaiming that salvation is in Christ alone; and demonstrating His divinity to all men with confident assurance. Hallelujah!