“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12).
With these words, Jesus Christ concisely expressed how important He is for humanity. Like the bright sun flooding the Earth, Christ wants to envelop all of us in His spiritual light.
When people remain distant from God, they remain in the night of sin, which can be dark indeed! Many people’s inner pain progresses into desperation as they see no way out of their situation. Hopelessness weighs on them like lead. It holds them in its grasp, and they give up and are lost.
It is into this dark night that Christ calls out, “I am the light of the world!” Can you not hear His call? Listen closely! He is calling to you and every single one of us! Without Christ bringing light into our world, the darkness remains in us, but everyone who turns to Him will receive the light of life, causing the shackles of sin to fall away and a new life to take root.
The Holy Scriptures say, “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4). By coming to Earth, Jesus sparked a major change, not only in individuals but also in entire nations. Proud and arrogant people became humble children of God who despised sin and loved God above all. They followed Christ and had the light of life. The light had revealed the damage in their lives, but it also transformed them, making them into new people. The life of sin had been dealt a death blow, giving way to a new life. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
The wonderful effect of this spiritual light penetrated even further, transforming circumstances, customs, and habits among the nations. Isaiah gives us a metaphor for this transformation, writing, “The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, even with joy and singing” (Isaiah 35:1-2). The gospel of Christ truly did bring new life into the desert of the pagan world. The wonderful radiance of God’s light broke through the night of paganism, and a new spiritual creation came into being.
“The Sun of Righteousness…with healing in His wings” has not yet set (Malachi 4:2). Christ, the light of the world, still shines. Jesus’ followers walk in His light and are thankful to enjoy salvation in Christ. They know about the difference between light and darkness because they have been touched by the light—they have experienced it personally. God’s grace permeates their lives. Knowing their blessings, they praise the virtues of the God who called them out of darkness and into His wonderful light.
“I am the light of the world!” Christ calls out to you. He wants to be to you what He is to others. Come to Him, open your heart, and you will be filled by radiant light.
G. Sonnenberg
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