John 8:12. Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
And the Bacchanalian celebrations continue today Friends; the last day of feasting before fasting for Lent. And they are certainly going to let it all hang out! Unfortunately, I’m too broken up to party so heartily again, but I still party when the occasion arises, I just can’t jump and prance like before. As the old people would say; after one time is certainly two yes. (smile) Some of you reading this will no doubt remember those exhilarating times we shared. I look around me here and see a couple pictures of some friends and I partying most heartily on the Lakeshore during Caribana. Oh Friends, those were surely some good, heady days! Now though I have to rely on memories because the old knees won’t allow me to behave like that any longer. And strangely, it doesn’t bother me all that much for I was already disenchanted with the celebrations even before my knees folded. I found that the quality had deteriorated and most of the young people didn’t know how to participate properly in the streets. Their idea of having a good time was pushing and shoving. So though I’ve missed Caribana for the last two years, I’m contented in my spirit. As Bruh Paul says, I’ve learned to be contented in whatever state I am. (Phil.4:11) But enough about me, we here to talk about Jesus, so let’s do that. And one statement He made several times, and was also made often about Him, pertains to Him being the Light of the World. Hear our Bit: ‘Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.’ Oh my people, I’d like to drive home the fact that those are words of eternal truth! Jesus is indeed the light of the world, and those who follow Him will never walk in darkness, but shall have a blindingly bright life, for His radiance is such that in the new earth, ‘there shall be no night there; and they need no candle (lamp), neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light:’ (Rev.22:5) Yes my brethren, our God is the repository of all things bright and beautiful! We need no one else but Him to live bright, wonderful lives. Now let’s look at some scriptures that talk about Jesus as the light of our lives. And the obvious place to begin is in the first chapter of John, where he expounds on the subject. ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended (apprehended) it not.’ (John 1:1-5) More words of eternal truth and wisdom my Friends, for Jesus was involved from the very first moment that our universe was created. When there was only darkness in the void, as part of the Triune God-head, He spoke these all important, immortal words: ‘Let there be light: and there was light.’ (Gen.1:3) From Him comes both the physical and spiritual light. Then John describes his relationship to Jesus thus: ‘There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.’ (John 1:6-9) John confirmed that Jesus was the TRUE Light prophesied by Isaiah (Is.9:2) and also the one of whom Malachi spoke when he solemnly declared: ‘For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall (grow fat like stall fed calves). And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts.’ (Mal.4:1-3) Oh Friends it ought to make us believers feel so good when we read of prophesies being fulfilled like that after many centuries, cause it just shows the truth and faithfulness and omnipotence of our God. There should be no doubt in our minds as to the authenticity of the scriptures; the Word of the ONE TRUE God! So please, let’s contemplate today on what the scriptures truly mean to us; if we believe them fully, partially or not at all. That is the first step to truly finding Jesus. Much LOVE!…if the Word wasn’t true…then prophesies would not be fulfilled…
SCRIP-BITS 