Children of Light

“So Jesus said to them, ‘The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light’” (John‬ ‭12:35-36‬ ‭ESV‬‬).

Jesus had been telling the crowds how He was going to die. As crowds (and we individuals!) often do they (and we!) just don’t get it. They were so learned in the traditions that they couldn’t comprehend the truth which preceded and predicated those traditions. They were stuck in the dark, blindedly searching for the light.

When He had pointed this out in the above verses they still didn’t understand. Having the benefit of hindsight, you would think that we would be at a great advantage. But somehow we still, so often, fail to find our way.

I have often participated in the yearly Wisconsin ritual called the Nine-Day-Gun-Deer Season. If it is any comfort to those opposed to hunting, I hunt for food, not for sport 😉. Opening day finds me leaving my vehicle and making my way to my spot in the woods well before sunrise. 

I remember one year when I hunted on a friend’s property a long way from my home. I had only been to my spot once before, so the task of locating it in the cold dark of opening morning would be a challenge. Equipped with a flashlight I attempted to find my way. However, nothing looks familiar in the narrow beam of a flashlight. After wandering for a short time I realized that I simply didn’t have enough light to get from darkness to destination. So I sat down by the closest tree and impatiently waited for the sun to rise. In the light of day I had no difficulty getting where I was going.

Jesus tried to get the point across that He is the light we all need, not only to get to our destination, but to identify our destination! Just as I realized my own light was insufficient to enable me to find my hunting stand, that I needed more Light, we all must come to the realization that apart from Christ we will never be able to successfully navigate this adventure called life. 

“While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” He is our ever-present source of light, insight, guidance and truth. He doesn’t need us to work up the energy to charge His batteries. He is THE source of light, THE source of power!

We don’t need to stumble aimlessly in the dark. we have the Light. Let us believe in the Light, and trust in the Light. Jesus has illuminated the way that we can become children of the Light.