<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God\u201d (John 3:19-21).<\/p>\n
GOD\u2019S TRUTH IS OFTEN REPRESENTED IN THE SCRIPTURES AS \u201cLIGHT.\u201d In contrast to the darkness, in which we may not see clearly and may mistake one thing for another, the light shows everything for what it really is. When God speaks, we are presented with the facts: about Him, about His offer of forgiveness for our sins, and about what He would have us to do. As Oswald Chambers said, \u201cLight is God\u2019s point of view.\u201d<\/p>\n
But we don\u2019t always want to hear God\u2019s point of view, particularly when it reveals the need for serious adjustments to be made in our character and conduct. \u201cThe light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.\u201d Darkness hides much that light would uncover.<\/p>\n
So we never make a more important decision than when we decide what our attitude will be toward the light of God. Will we actively seek it and then gratefully welcome it? Or will we run from it and resent the pain that it causes to our conscience?<\/p>\n
It may indeed be painful, at least at first, to \u201ccome to the light.\u201d If we\u2019ve been in the darkness for a long time, we\u2019ve probably gotten used to a certain kind of comfort \u2014 not the comfort that comes from things being well with us, but the false comfort of our failing to see how far from well things truly are. Darkness has allowed us to live with a wrong sense of security, perhaps for a very long time.<\/p>\n
But light changes all of that. In the light, we see our situation as it is. We see the truth about the wide chasm between where we are and where God wants us to be. We see the ugly fact of our irresponsibility, our ingratitude, our rebellion. We see our sin.<\/p>\n
Our destiny, then, hangs upon our decision about the light. Either we\u2019ll accept the momentary pain of repentance, or we\u2019ll suffer the eternal pain of regret. Jesus said it is the truth<\/em> that will make us free (John 8:32). Is that what we seek or not?<\/p>\n \u201cI am not judged by the light I have, but by the light I have refused to accept\u201d (Oswald Chambers).<\/p>\n Gary Henry \u2013 WordPoints.com + AreYouaChristian.com<\/p>\n