Exposed

Advent Day #23

In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. John 1:4-5, 9

The first use of UV light for disinfection was in Marseilles, France, in 1910. (See Using UV for Sterilization.) At certain wavelengths, light disrupts the nucleic acids in bacteria, causing them to die. However, stains and shadows can still breed germs even in such light’s presence.

The picture of rats running for cover in a light-flooded kitchen comes to mind, as well. The only safe place for things that don’t want to be seen and destroyed is to hide in dark shadows.

In the Old Testament, no person could look on God and live. When Moses stood within the cleft of the rock covered by God’s hand, his face shone so vividly that he veiled it, so the people were less fearful. When Jesus came, his human form veiled the brightness of God’s glory in Him, but His perfection still made the sinful very uncomfortable. Those clinging to the comfort of darkness either raged or ran, but they could not stay in Jesus’ presence as they were. Only those who allowed His light to purify their sin stayed to enjoy His fellowship.

Though Jesus no longer walks the planet, His Light is still available through His Word. In fact, a recent report claims that Bible sales are currently up 22% as people look for a source of Light in the dreary darkness of this world. Those who choose to stay in fellowship with Jesus are also carriers of His light. We have no source of light in our own power, but as long as we stay in fellowship with Jesus through His Word, we have the ability to shine His light to those still lost in darkness. We must make the choice every day to allow His Light to purify us, so that His reflected light in us shines unobscured. 1 John 1:5-10 tells us just how to do that!

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 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.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Christmas is the best time of year to shine as brightly as the twinkling lights in the night’s dreary winter. Keep shining, my friends!