The True Light

Read |John 1: 1 - 11|

I have come to treasure the night sky; the lights flickering defiantly in the darkness. It all takes my breath away. I arrive under its cover in haste, but with one glance I am slowed to stillness--I am moved to awe. And in that stillness I hear its witness, "God is great". In the stillness I hear the witness of God's goodness. In stillness I can ponder the infinite wisdom of God through whom all things have been made and, are even now held together. (John 1: 3 and Colossians 1:17).

But, the night sky does not captivate with equal strength in all places. In some places, the night sky is as a thick tent of darkness--no light in it to be seen. The heart of New York City is such a place. The glare of human devices, boastfully turned towards the sky, creates light pollution. Light pollution creates a veil that obscures our ability to perceive the beauty of the night sky. It shuts out this very important witness. And in its absence, we hurry along, never knowing its invitation to stillness and missing the assurance of meditating on the greatness, goodness and wisdom of our God. Missing the invitation to rest (cease our striving) in the knowledge of our God.

The book of John opens by establishing Jesus' identity as the preexistent, creator God, who is the source of life, which is the light of men. (John 1: 1 - 4). It goes on to speak of the quality of this light: the light is not overcome by darkness, it is true and generously available to all. (John 1: 5 and 9). Yet, in spite of these remarkable qualities of light, it enters the world and is not understood. It enters the world and is missed by those it has come to bless. It enters the world and is obscured by the boastfulness of manmade devices. (John 1: 10 - 11). Light pollution, creates the illusion that the only things worth beholding are the works of our own hands. It has us living low in the smog of our own understanding, while the beauty of God awaits to take our breath away and, at the same time, give us life.  

Beloved, slow down. Lift your eyes from the ground and fix them on Jesus. The veil has been torn, that you may both see and touch Him. The veil has been torn that you may say boldly, "I am His and He is mine." Turn off the light conjured by the wisdom of this world and pray for eyes to behold the true light, which is for you and all people. Let His beauty take your breath away, and give you life.

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Are you looking for a way to deepen your walk with Jesus? Then, Christ-centered community is essential! Join us in the Be-Held Book Community on facebook. This month we will read, "Come Matter Here: Your Invitation to Be Here in a Getting There World" by Hannah Brencher. Grab your book at your local library, bookstore or on Amazon! We'll have a complementary study available to help deepen your engagement with the topics and themes in the book and be there to provide you with nourishing community.