John 1:1-9
Eugene Peterson translates verses four and five of today's text
in the following manner, as he says of the Living Word, "What came into existence was Life, and the Life was Light to
live by. The Life-Light
blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn't put it out." New
Testament writers often use metaphors of life and light to describe Christ at
work in human hearts and in the world around us. Several years ago, hundreds of
feet underground in Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, the guide, having taken us to the
deepest part of the cave, talked about the power of light in the darkest
places. To illustrate his point, he flipped a switch and the artificial light
that lit our way as we descended into the depths of the cave was suddenly
extinguished. The darkness was unlike any I had ever experienced. There was no
adjustment to be made, no glimmer in the distance...total, overwhelming
darkness. Left in such darkness, the guide told us, we would soon begin to lose
perspective and before long, most likely go mad. After a few moments, the
lights were again turned on and the oppressive darkness that had enveloped us
was overcome.
Sin is
often characterized by darkness in scripture. It is the kind of covering that
compromises perspective. Salvation, on the other hand, is often characterized
by light, as in today's text. This light, however is not dependent on a source
of fuel that must be replenished before it runs out. There is no battery to be
replaced or covering that must be in place to protect it from the elements.
This light, this blazing Life-Light, cannot be put out. Yes, the darkness of
sin threatens all around us, but the light of Christ is indeed "light to
live by."
Prayer: Light of the World, shine on us and
within us, overcoming the darkness of our sin. Amen.
Jim
Abernathy
No comments:
Post a Comment