Standing steadfast and firm in the Light of Faith.
“Behold the King has come, divinity incarnate
Creator of the world, breathing our air
Behold what light has come, and the dark cannot contain it
The Savior of the world is finally here”
Behold, Travis Cottrell
“4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”
John 1:4-5, NKJV
There is a famous C.S. Lewis quote where he compares the rising of the sun to Christianity.
“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”
The Psalmist says: Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to guide my path…” (Psalm 119:105:)
Jesus, as the Word made Flesh, is the Light of the World (John 1, Isaiah 42:6) - comes to illuminate - to demonstrate The Way to us as believers. To SHOW us The Way as a lamp unto our feet and a light to guide our path.
John says the following: “In Him was life and this life was the light of men. The darkness could not comprehend it.”
‘Comprehend’ here, in the New King James version, is translated in many other translations as ‘overcome’, ‘overwhelm’, ‘overpower’ and some other variations - which seems to be a more accurate translation of the Greek word ‘katalambanó’.
Yes, the darkness - the ignorance and arrogance of the world - could not understand the light that was in Christ, but it also could not overpower and overwhelm it.
This is important for us as believers in this current age to understand.
Where many are being brainwashed by the culture of our day - where even basic definitions such as ‘man’ or ‘woman’ - basic biological, scientific terms - are being blurred by wilful ignorance, we need to stand up for truth.
Where definitions of ‘justice’ are being twisted, where ‘good’ and ‘evil’ have become nothing more than arbitrary grey areas - we need to understand that truth is not subjective. Truth is found in Christ.
As Christians it is easy for us who know the Truth to get discouraged by the state of affairs around us.
I look at the younger generations and my heart breaks. There is so much confusion…
There are often talks about taking Christianity out of schools, keeping it away from and out of Government with a ten-foot pole and barring it from the workplace.
In these trying times we must stand strong and know that those who came before us in the faith faced
St. Patrick, in the spirit of the Gospel of John, draws the following comparison between Jesus and the sun:
“The sun which we see rising for us each day at his command, that sun will never reign nor will its splendour continue forever; and all those who adore that sun will come to a bad, miserable penalty. We, however, believe in and adore the true sun, that is, Christ, who will never perish.” (Conf., 60)
The World does not ‘recognize’, ‘comprehend’ or ‘understand’ the Light that is in Jesus, turning instead to the sun of their own intellect. This however will lead them, as Patrick said, to a bad and miserable penalty as they find even their truth being folded up and perishing in the greater scheme of eternity.
We however, believe in and adore the True Sun, the Risen Son, Jesus Christ - the one who will never perish - and most importantly will never be overwhelmed by the shadows cast by an inferior source.
So, keep true to the faith - even when darkness tries to overwhelm. Even when the arrogance and ignorance of this world tries to silence us. We will stay true to Jesus and The Way He came to demonstrate.
Let us endeavor to keep our lights shining - let the moon of our lives reflect the light from the Sun of His Righteousness - the confusion of this world will eventually pass away, but in Him we have our eternal reward.
Prayer: Lord, help me today to know where the line is drawn and to not cross it - let there be no compromise in my life when it comes to the truth. I am called to be in the world, but not like it. If I have, in my thinking or believing strayed from Your path, right my course dear Lord. And let me hold fast to the promises of Your Word, let me hold fast to the Truth, even when a multitude of voices around me sow confusion. Let me find refuge in You and what You have ordained. Jesus, be my center. Be the light that guides my path so that I might have life eternal with You. In Jesus Name. Amen.