Complimentary Story
Those of us who live in Michigan don’t see the sun too often during the winter months, even less than you Wisconsinites. It is dark when we leave for work and dark when we return home for the evening. In between, the afternoons are gray and glum. Many lives are subconsciously affected by the gloom of a weary Michigan winter. Attitudes improve when the sun finally begins to light the day in the springtime; lives suddenly become not so melancholy. The world around us is spiritually dark and gloomy. Sure, there are moments of happiness, but vanity and selfishness abound. Yet, those who have the Son find life and joy. Just as the Godhead created the sun to be the source of light and life to the earth, the light of Jesus Christ is the source of true life.
I am reminded of what Malachi the prophet wrote to Israel thousands of years ago. He wrote, “But unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings…” (Malachi 4:2). In its proper context, this verse is speaking of a time when Christ returns after the Tribulation period to set up the promised kingdom for His nation Israel. However, this verse also reminds me that Christ, “the Sun,” is the source of true, eternal life. We know the physical sun is the earth’s source of light, it is also the source of all life. Without the rays of the sun, no plant life could exist. Without plant life, animals wouldn’t exist. Humanity also needs the rays of the sun for energy. Malachi pictures Christ as the Sun, thus speaking of Him as the Light and the source of all Life. Christ, is the eternal Light who created the sun’s light (Colossians 1:16).
In John 1:4 we read, “In {Christ} was life; and the life was the light of men.” Both Malachi and John present Jesus Christ as Light, a perfect word picture and title for Him who loved us and gave Himself for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). Sadly, John 1:5 continues to record the response of the people to Christ, the life-giving light: “And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” The world decided it liked the gloomy life of darkness and refused to acknowledge the Son.
Praise the Lord we have the message that properly rendered death powerless and, instead, shined forth life and eternity. We read of this momentous opportunity in 2 Timothy 2:10. God’s purpose and grace “is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” The marvelous gospel that Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again is the source of true, everlasting life. When we, by faith alone, trust in this provision of Jesus Christ we pass from death unto life.
One day, those who have trusted in the gospel will be delivered from this gloomy, depressing, sin-cursed world. Then, “when Christ who is our life shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:4). What gets many of us through the dark Michigan winters is the knowledge that the sun will one day return. Likewise, we can get through the doom and glooms of this dark world by focusing on the fact that one day the Son will return. What a day that will be!
WHAT ABOUT YOU? Have you accepted that light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ or are you one of the ones described by John as “loving darkness rather than light” (John 3:19)? Jesus Christ the Light is the ONLY source of eternal life. All other forms of light are man-made and will fail. It is the difference between the unfailing light of the sun verses the short-term batteries in your flashlight. One will last your entire life; the other will go dark, probably when you need it the most. The only life-giving light we can depend on is the light of Jesus Christ. He will never fail you; His life is eternal and glorious. Won’t you trust in Him today?
If you are a beneficiary of the light (a.k.a. you have trust in the work of Jesus Christ to save you), you now have a new life to live. As Ephesians 5:8 explains, “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.” You no longer have to live in darkness, you have been brought to the Light. We can now live lives full of joy and purpose despite the gloom around us. The light of Jesus Christ is powerful enough to share with everyone. Won’t you live for Him and share His light with others today?
BEREAN BIBLE INSTITUTE
P. O. Box 587
Slinger, WI 53086
Phone: 262-644-5504
www.BereanBibleInstitute.org
E-mail: bbi@bereanbibleinstitute.org
