Light in the DarkSample

...and the darkness has not overcome it.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:1-5 NIV

The story of Easter is a story of impossibilities. Impossible events centered on an impossible person. That person is Jesus, a man whose life started with a womb that should have been empty and ended with a tomb that should have been full.

The crucifixion wasn’t the end of the story; it was just the set-up for resurrection. Because on the third day, Jesus rose to life. He put death to death. He defeated sin, darkness, and the devil. He walked out of His own grave, victorious, leaving His enemies lying in the dust.

Why? So that all of humanity, a people infected by sin, could be rescued from a disease that is always fatal and reunited with a God who is always good. This is why we celebrate Easter. On Good Friday, God tasted death, but on Easter Sunday, death was the only one still in the grave.

And now, we are eagerly awaiting the day Jesus returns to finish what He started. Because we don’t just celebrate Easter because of what God has done. We celebrate Easter because of what God is doing, and what He will do.

What is God doing now? He is working to make all things new. Because of the resurrection, New Creation is breaking into the world. Light is once again shining in the darkness and life has been made available to all.

When you place your trust in Jesus, you become a part of New Creation. He adopts you into His family, you become a citizen of His Kingdom, and He invites you to join Him in the work He is doing. The work of making all things new and putting broken things back together.

Because of what He has done, we can get our old jobs back—partnering with the God who went to hell and back to rescue what was stolen, repair what was broken, and restore what was lost. To light the way home.

Jesus is the Light of the world, and, when we join our life to His, His light starts to shine through us. So that, in a way, we too become the light of the world. The Apostle Paul writes:

The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you…. Romans 8:11 NLT

This Spirit, the one who raised Jesus from the dead to kick off the New Creation, fills us with a light that shines so powerfully the darkness cannot overcome it.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16 NIV

We carry the light of Jesus everywhere we go. Because it’s who we are. His light is in us and it shines through us. We get to watch the darkness flee in front of our eyes when people turn to Jesus. We get to share His light with all the confidence and courage in the world because we know that a day is coming when the darkness will be no more. When that day comes, God will forever be with His people and we will rule with Him forever and ever.

“‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:4 NIV

No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. Revelation 22:3-5 NIV

Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, New Creation has been initiated. God is working to make all things new, starting with me and you.

He is actively working in the world right now to bring as many people to Him as possible. And He’s invited us to join Him in this work. How? By letting the light of Jesus fill us. And let the light of Jesus shine through us. By doing what we can to rescue others from sin and lead them back to God. The good news? None of what we do, even if we fail, is ever wasted. God is using and will use it all.

If you are a Christian, you have been called by God to live in the present age as an agent of the age to come.

If you aren’t, then let today be the day that changes. Because Jesus came for you. He died for you. He rose again for you. And when you put your trust in Him, He fills you with His life. It’s time to step into the light.

Jesus is the light who shines in the darkness and gives light to everyone.

Keep growing in your faith and learning how to play your part in God’s mission by reading the Bible Plans Fully Devoted: An Introduction or Learning the Jesus Way of Life with some friends today!