When the Son Gets in Your Eyes
John 3:19-21
“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”
My wife and I were sitting down to enjoy a delicious breakfast one morning, but it was a cloudless day and the morning sun was shining brightly into our dining room. It was at such an angle as to be shining right into my eyes, and it was quite annoying! Has that ever happened to you?
As I sat there, wincing and dodging the sun so as not to be blinded, it occurred to me that God’s people are a lot like that. You see, the sun is a picture of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
In Malachi 4:2, He is called the Sun of Righteousness. In Matthew 17:2, Peter, James and John saw Jesus shining like the sun on the Mount of Transfiguration. In Acts 26:12-15, Saul saw Jesus shining even brighter than the sun when he was traveling on the road to Damascus. In Revelation 1:13-16, we see Jesus in all His glory, shining like the sun! He is the King of Glory, He is Light and Life.
“In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” John 1:4
But, as we read in our text, the problem is that sometimes we love darkness rather than light, because the light interferes with our own selfish desires. So we winch at it because it makes us uncomfortable. We become irritated and can even (God forbid) begin to hate the light!
“For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.” John 3:20
Light is a good thing. It helps us to see plainly so we can move about without stumbling or hurting ourselves. But when people become comfortable with their own sinful and selfish ways, the ‘glare’ of the Light can feel more like an attack than a blessing, and it can cause them to flinch.
You might be thinking that God’s people shouldn’t be compared to evil doers, but let me remind you that sometimes God’s people do indeed have wicked ways, because God exhorts His people in 2 Chronicles 7:14 to turn from their wicked ways! Do you have any wicked ways? Just asking, you need not answer. God knows.
The Light of God’s Word illuminates the way and gives comfort and peace to those who live thereby, but it can also sting when we are walking in darkness. When the Light is shining upon you, is it a welcome and comforting thing, or does it sting?
If the Light of Christ makes you flinch, you need to adjust your vision. If we will keep our eyes focused on Jesus, we will become accustomed to the Light, and it will no longer make us uncomfortable or cause us to flinch. The light will be beautiful to us.
May we all come to the place in our spiritual journey where we no longer flinch at God’s Word.
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7
Don’t flinch at the Light! Welcome the Light! RUN to the Light! For that Light is the Lord Jesus Christ, and He is Life!
