Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for me against evildoers? -Psalm 94:16 (NIV)
The message this past Sunday came from the gospel of John and a section subtitled: Jesus Is the Light of the World. The key verse was John 8:12, where Jesus said, “I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.” But what does this mean, Jesus being the light of the world? The preacher laid it out in three sections; the light reveals truth, the light leads to life, and the light provides guidance. What I want to focus on here is another thing the light does; it exposes darkness.
Shortly after the well known verse from John 3:16, where Jesus explains just how much God loves the world, he lays out the stark truth for all to hear in John 3:19-21, “And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”
Have you ever wondered why so many people hate Christians? After all, followers of Jesus go around practicing good deeds, so why hate them? They aren’t perfect, which they will readily admit, but they try to stay in the light and live a life pleasing to God. Traditionally they’ve built hospitals and universities; they’ve adopted babies, fed the hungry, practiced charity, put their lives on the line sharing the good news of Jesus and his saving grace to a lost world. So why the animus? Read the quote from John chapter 3 again.
I assume you know what it feels like to be sound asleep in your darkened room, only to have someone come in and flip on the light switch. You cover your eyes and in anger yell, “Turn off that light!” Similarly, no one wants their evil deeds exposed to the light, and when they are, the reaction is much the same. Not only do the wicked not want their deeds exposed, they don’t want anyone to impede their efforts, and the truth is, followers of Jesus are in the way. Much like Lot was in the way when the men of the city tried to have relations with the two angels who came to visit him (Genesis 19). We humans sin because we want to, and whatever we desire, we think we should have. Forget self-control. And like a two year old, we do not want to hear the word no. Temper tantrums aren’t reserved for two year olds.
Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus, reminding them of who they once were, and who they had become. About those immoral people in the world, Paul wrote these words in Ephesians 5:7-12:
Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light (for the fruit of light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. And do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.
I recall a time, back when newspapers were a thing, reading the section titled, Police Reports. Over time, I noticed a pattern in the time of day these events occurred. Inevitably, these infractions of the law took place in the darkness, many of them in the middle of the night, but certainly after 10:00 pm. Which made me think of those times when I lived in the darkness and engaged in immoral living; my deeds were almost always conducted at night, most often late at night when the rest of the world was sound asleep. When wanting to get drunk as an underage teen, I certainly didn’t seek out a men’s Bible study group on Saturday morning as the place to pop open a cold one. Rather, my like minded comrades and I waited until the dead of night to perpetrate our misdeeds. On a dark country road, far away from prying eyes. There is cover in darkness. Speaking of my former life, here’s what Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:1-3:
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
Paul encourages us to expose the evil deeds of darkness. Why do you think it’s so easy for Christians to spot evil? In my case, because I once lived it. But for most of us, because living in the light trains us to discern evil. In the light, we recognize darkness all too well. Some might say, “Why don’t you Christians just mind your own business, keep your mouths shut, and get out of the way?” One question I have in response is, who will speak for and defend the innocent?
- When powerful men and women want to secretly traffic innocent children for their sexual perversions and pleasures, who is it that exposes them in shame? There’s a reason Jeffrey Epstein’s client list remains hidden to this day.
- When women want to pay others to kill their innocent, inconvenient babies in the womb, up until the time of birth, who is it that stands in the way? Who is it who builds and staffs pregnancy crisis centers? And why is it so many women seek the government’s approval via the law?
- When politicians in government want to legalize drugs and prostitution, to fulfill their lust for more money, who is it standing in the way?
- When pedophiles and perverts want to inculcate schools with their perverted ideology and propaganda, who stands in opposition?
- When adults want to physically mutilate children, to accomplish something that cannot be done, joining these disturbed individuals in their fantasies, who is it that speaks the truth?
- When the culture wants to change the definition of words and normalize deviant behavior, who is it calling them out?
In Ezekiel 22, the prophet brings the word of the Lord to the people. During this time, the culture of Jerusalem was rotten; people served false gods, engaged in sexual immorality and lewd acts, shed innocent blood, despised God’s holy things, and Israel had become a reproach to the nations and a mocking to all the surrounding lands. Sounds familiar doesn’t it? It sounds much like America today. And here is what God instructed Ezekiel to say to the people (Ezekiel 22:30):
“I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one.” (NLT)
Think what society would be like, what the rich and powerful and sexual predators would get away with, if not for Christians willing to speak up and be heard, if not for those willing to stand in the gap. No wonder they hate us. We’re in the way. I can hear them say, “If it wasn’t for those &%#$%+@ Christians, we could get away with just about anything.” And it’s true. Who else cares? Some might say that the law protects our children. Until the laws change. And they have and will. Man’s laws will never equal God’s righteousness.
Regarding the light, Jesus had this to say about his followers in Matthew 5:14-16:
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
Christians are called to do more than shine the light in the darkness, we’re to be the light in the darkness. We are called to live in a way that glorifies God, to be different from the world. But beware. Jesus said that everyone who does evil hates the light. However, take comfort, for as Jesus said, “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.” (John 15:18) As long as you don’t shrink back, but stay strong, you’ll remain in their way. So, gird your loins and remain true to your calling. And remember the words of the Lord as spoken through Isaiah the prophet, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness…”
Jesus also has warnings for those who do evil and lead others astray. From Matthew 18:6-7: “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!” (NKJV)
On that note, one more quote I’ll leave with you to ponder. This from Hebrews 10:31- It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Here are some lyrics from an old hymn I used to love singing, back when we sang the old hymns:
The whole world was lost in the darkness of sin,
The Light of the world is Jesus!
Like sunshine at noonday, His glory shone in;
The Light of the world is Jesus!
Come to the light, ’tis shining for thee;
Sweetly the light has dawned upon me;
Once I was blind, but now I can see:
The Light of the world is Jesus!
Praise the Lord for the Light of the World, Jesus Christ.
If you enjoyed this post, you might also enjoy my book, Pondering God.
Pondering God 