True Light

John 8:1-12

Light reveals what exists in darkness. Once we turn on a light in a dark room, we can see everything in that space. Before we turned on the light, we could not grasp all that was present. Darkness does not stop the light; it drives the darkness away. Conversely, when we turn off the light, darkness returns. If the light is on, darkness cannot enter. 

How many of us have ever walked outside in complete darkness with a flashlight? Wherever that light shone, darkness was absent. Anywhere the light did not reach, darkness prevailed. You walked, and in front of you, the light illuminated the path, but everywhere else remained dark and could not consume you. As you moved, the light followed your lead. Keep this image in your mind. 

The speed of light travels through a vacuum at 186,000 miles per second, which is the fastest anything can move in the universe. When astronomers observe a star 500 light years away, they are looking at light that is 500 years old. Albert Einstein stated that the speed of light is always constant, regardless of the measurement tool used. 

At the speed of light, clocks come to a halt, and the size of the universe collapses to zero. The instant the Light of the World enters your life, time stops for your expiration!

Jesus is the True Light of this world. For any Christian to combat darkness, they must have the true light in their lives. Christ, as the True Light, reveals the heart, intentions, and condemnation. 

HEART:

Light reveals everything it touches. Please pick up the hymnal in front of you. I will ask Kaitlyn to turn off the lights. Try to find page 289. Keep the book in your lap; do not cheat. Many of you struggled to locate that page. Those near the doors, where light streamed in, could see better.

Now, turn off the lights and find page 111. The same holds true for what happens when we allow the True Light to shine in our hearts. Some of us have harbored dark sins within us. We often want to condemn others without reflecting on our own transgressions. When we let Jesus illuminate our hearts, we are better able to recognize our own shortcomings. 

My dad recently had triple bypass surgery. They used imaging to examine his heart and veins, which helped them identify the issue and create a plan to address it. He had blocked arteries, which hindered his heart from functioning properly. What we have is a ticker that was clogged with sin.  

All sin originates in the heart. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus discusses how murder and adultery arise from the heart in Matthew 5:21 ;5:27. Later, He speaks about the lamp of the body in Matthew 6:22-23

Matthew 5:21 NKJV

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’

Matthew 5:27 NKJV

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’

Matthew 6:22–23 NKJV

“The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

Remember last week when I discussed the right diet for consuming the Bread of Life? If our eyes do not consistently focus on the True Light, our diet will be worldly rather than heavenly. However, if we keep our eyes on the Light, it will illuminate our hearts!

INTENTIONS:

The intentions of the Pharisees and Scribes were to trap Jesus. John 8:6

John 8:6 NKJV

This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.

 What they wanted was to accuse Him of something. How many of you have been falsely accused or caught in a trap designed to undermine your character? Let me phrase it this way: how many of you have falsely accused someone or tried to trap them? What were your intentions?

This year, our word is intentional. There are only two ways to relate to Him: to serve Him or to accuse Him. If we serve Him, our intention is to shine the True Light into the darkness to help people out. Our purpose is never to condemn them but to love and lift them up. 

Condemnation:

How many times have you been around someone who says, “I feel convicted by you”? You probably did nothing except walk in the Light and let it shine through you. That is the power of the True Light within you. It brings what is hidden to the surface. Once you recognize the hidden sin, it’s time to repent. Psalm 69:5

Psalm 69:5 NKJV

O God, You know my foolishness; And my sins are not hidden from You.

The True Light perceives the sins of each of her accusers. Nothing is concealed from Christ. Matthew 10:26 

Matthew 10:26 NKJV

Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.

The True Light will bring judgment at the right time. 1 Corinthians 4:5 states, “Then each one will receive his condemnation from GOD.” Nowhere in that verse does it mention that we condemn. The moment we condemn, we elevate ourselves to the status of God, which we are not!

1 Corinthians 4:5 NKJV

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.

APPLICATION:

1.     You can take the light with you wherever you go. By letting your light shine, you can inspire change. Be a lighthouse for those who are searching. Be the flashlight in the darkness so others can see hope.

2.     Let the True Light purify your heart. When our hearts are aligned, we can assist others.

3.     We can assist others if our intentions are pure and filled with Light.

4.     We can assist those who are living in condemnation. How? By guiding them toward the True Light.

5.     There is no other Light out there.