This is part 2 of an 8-part series. View the entire series here.
Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow Me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” – John 8:12 NLT
Light is a common theme throughout the Bible.
”Then God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light” (Genesis 1:3 NLT).
”Your Word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105 NLT).
“For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!” (Ephesians 5:8 NLT).
After God’s people left Egypt and began their pilgrimage through the wilderness, God sent them reminders of His presence in the form of light (Exodus 13:21). The pillar of fire gave them the means to continue traveling the desert through the night, and it also served as proof that God was with the Israelites, even in their darkest hours.
But in John 8:12, Jesus isn’t just promising to always provide light for us, He’s declaring that He is our light. And Jesus’s light can never be dimmed or snuffed out (John 1:5).
Imagine fathoms upon fathoms of darkness, and then into that darkness a single match is lit. There’s no denying that the darkness is still a powerful force compared to the size of a single flame, but it will never be powerful enough to cancel out even the smallest pinprick of light.
When we follow Jesus, we have that inextinguishable light in us, too. While those in the world stumble blindly through the proverbial darkness, trying their hardest to make decisions about where to go and what to do, those of us who are in Jesus walk confidently, pushing back the darkness with every step forward, because our paths are illuminated and our hearts fixed on the One who will always guide us through.
In our fallen world, it sometimes feels like there’s more dark than light. But the promise of the Gospel is that one day, darkness—both physical and spiritual—will be defeated for good, and we’ll get to live with God in His Kingdom. When that day comes, there will be no more night. There won’t be need for lamps or fire or even the sun, because God Himself will be our light forever (Revelation 22:5).
