The Light of Life: Jesus and Eternal Hope

Engage Holy Scripture: Read John 8:12-20.

Did you ask the Lord to open your eyes and clear your mind to receive the words of life written in sacred Scripture? Did you ask for a light to shine on the passages that lead you rightly? Did you notice how the Word is strategically placed there for your encouragement, counsel, and correction?

If so, then you’re walking in the Light.

When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 NIV.

The Light

Interestingly, these words immediately follow the forgiveness of the woman caught in adultery. All she had known before was darkness, and she even expected to die in that darkness.

Until she met Jesus.

His words were light and life to her soul. She walked away in the Light of His love. If we walk with Christ, we have life and no longer know darkness. He is the Light of our life and our salvation.

Light always snuffs out darkness.

Light of His Presence

The Light of His presence clears out the mists and fogs that keep us from knowing the truth. If we walk with Him, then how can we stumble in the dark? If we live in the shadow of the Light of Life, then how can we experience death?

Deception is powerless as we walk with Jesus and live in the Truth. His words of life throw a light on God’s ways, will, and word. In the Light, we see His love and take His lead.

By walking with Jesus, we cannot be overtaken by darkness. For this reason, too, He came from the Father to us. It was foretold in sacred Scripture:

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned. Isa 9:2 NIV.

The Light is Revelation

The Son of God has come – Light has dawned in the darkness. He brings revelation – making known what we did not know before.

In the Light, He opens our eyes to see the verdict of the last day.

Judgment!

This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God. John 3:19-21 NIV.

Books Opened

You see, in the Holy Bible, we read something interesting: the truth about what will happen in the future is illuminated for us: the books will be opened on Judgment Day (Revelation 20).

Book of Accountability

One set of books has recorded every detail of our lives, including our thoughts, deeds, and words, since the day we were born. In Revelation 20:20, we’re reminded that the dead are judged by what is written in the books.

So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Rom 14:12 NIV.

Book of Remembrance

God keeps a record of remembrance. He takes delight in our discussions and faithfulness:

Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in His presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored His name. “They will be mine,” says the LORD Almighty, “in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not. Mal 3:16-18 NIV

Lamb’s Book of Life

Then there is another book in Heaven: the Book of Life.

When we seriously come to Jesus Christ, the Messiah. If we accept and honestly believe that He is risen from the dead and so receive Him into our lives, then something happens. We are redeemed, reconciled to God, and our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

What’s the verdict?

In the first book, our names are blotted out by the blood of Jesus, and God no longer remembers our sins.

If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Rev 20:15 NIV.

It’s our Choice

The choice is ours to follow Christ closely or not. To walk in the Light or the darkness. His call to walk with Him and follow Him is more than an invitation. It’s the path out of darkness into the Light of His love.

Eternal death awaits those walking in darkness.

Jesus has made Himself approachable, and we live better lives, saved and reconciled, for it. He is the Light of the world, and whoever follows Him will never walk in darkness.

In Him is the Light of life!

We are closer than ever to Jesus’ return. Now is the time, and today is the day to accept Jesus and walk in the Light of His love: He is the Light of our life and our salvation. Who shall we fear? He is the stronghold of our life – of whom shall we be afraid? (Ps 27:1 NIV).

Trust me, you’ll never regret it.

Behold the Lamb that takes away the sin of the world!

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 NIV.

May the light of God’s love shine on you and bring you peace,