In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men. And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it [put it out or absorbed it or appropriated it, and is unreceptive to it].
John 1: 4-5 AMPC
The one being introduced here is called by various names, two of which are mentioned in today's extract: Life and Light. Almost all versions mention these two starting with uppercase letters, which means they refer to nouns, or maybe names. Well, the Word of God already refers to Jesus as the Way, the Truth and the Life. It means then that these names go beyond what they can give and includes who they are. A man is known by his name, and his name defines what you can get from Him. If his name is Life, that is what you get. If he is Light, that is what you get. This life is the light that shines on all men, pointing us back to God and showing us the way back to God.
How would I know the value of light if I have never understood the power of its opposite, which is darkness? How would I appreciate the life I have, if I have never fully understood the power and reach of death? It appears that everything God tells me about has value, because He wants me to make a decision based on complete information. He won't want me to choose him out of just fear, or a lack of options, but out of a heart of complete knowledge and love.
This light shines on; in fact, it has been shining since recorded time, when Adam and Eve walked with God, without sin. It shone on through the choice of Abraham as a friend, up to the choice of Israel as his favourite then. It shines on today, where all who come to Jesus receive life and light, and can look forward to eternity with hope. Is it that there is no darkness? Oh there is, and all who submit to it are under its power, but darkness has never, and can never stop what the light is doing. It may appear that darkness is winning, but as long as God remains God and ruler of all He has made, even darkness answers to Him.
Try as much as he wants, the devil is not able to defeat the light, but the big issue is this: in my own life, who is in charge: light or darkness? The control point determines the outflow. No matter how hard darkness tries, it cannot overpower light, unless and until you allow darkness to operate. It is therefore my own decision to make: who will I allow unfettered access into my life?
The choice of words are quite instructive: darkness cannot absorb, appropriate, or be receptive to the Light. Light and darkness are parallel lines that can never meet, no matter how long you draw or stretch them. Darkness cannot absorb light because light is strange to it. It cannot appropriate light because it is strange to its nature. It cannot respond to light because they are not of the same stock. There is nothing under heaven or in heaven that can ever make a compromise between light and darkness. So, when I am tempted to think I can play both sides, I must remember this: Jesus is light. That should tell me all I need to know about who Jesus is, and the things I must do if I will please Him and get all He is and has. Need light? Need life? Jesus is both and even more. Seek him out today. His time of favour is here.
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