CHAPLAIN’S PAGE – “LIGHT”
We all know that light is the opposite to dark. Simple! Or is it? The Concise Oxford Dictionary takes a whole page to describe light, and somehow misses the essential definition. A definition that is short and profound, just seven words. Sadly, the world has missed the point altogether, and put artificial light before the true light. Our Lord put it simply thus, ‘I am the light of the world’ (John c8 v12). Oh, says the world, He may have been a good man and obviously meant well. This is a polite way of saying that he didn’t have any special qualifications or authority for making any claims.
Putting aside worldly ignorance, just to remind you of what Jesus said, “I am the light of the world”. This mighty statement carries the signature of the Godhead, for “I am” is one of God’s names. Through eternity “I am” always has been, and always will be. The Jews showed their lack of spiritual understanding on spiritual matters whenever they encountered our Lord. He said to them one day, ‘your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it, and was glad’. Then said the Jews unto him, “thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, verily, verily, I say unto you, before Abraham was, “I am”. (John ch8 v58).
That brief statement defies all human understanding and transcends time. Notice again the “I am” who is Jesus the Christ, the Creator, the Everlasting to Everlasting. He is, as he claims, the light of the world.
Why is Satan and his army of angels working so desperately hard to extinguish the light in these Islands today? Because he knows that he has but a short time. We must reluctantly admit that the light has been almost extinguished nationally. Has the church endevoured to keep it burning? Sadly it has, for the most part, joined with the world, and is equally guilty. It is for this reason that“For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? ( 1 Peter c4v17).
If the church was faithfully carrying out its Godly mission, there would be no need of judgment! Laying aside Satan’s effort to extinguish the light, we may ask, in what way is it being carried aloft in our nation today? It is through the principle established by God from the beginning of Israel’s history. Isaiah expressed it so simply in c1 and v9“Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah”. Throughout the years it has always been the minority that has turned events to God’s glory. Today, it is indeed the very small remnant that is keeping the light burning.
There are those who are appointed to oversee the nation, and unknown by the nation, and probably even to themselves, it is those individuals, and prayer groups, who constantly lift up the nation before God at this time of Jacob’s trouble. It is they who ensure that Jesus, the true light, will never be extinguished. Paul was given a wonderful vision of the true light expressed in Col c1 v12-19. “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the Kingdom of his dear Son. In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins. Who is the image of the invisible God, the first born of every creature. For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him. And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the first born from the dead: that in all things he might have pre-eminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell”.
Wherever Christ is, he is equated with light. In John c9 our Lord healed a blind man whose darkness was suddenly turned to light. The first thing that he saw was the face of Jesus! Paul expressed a mighty truth which brings us to this present day. (II Cor c4 v4-6). “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord: and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ”.
The glory of God is in the face of Jesus! How can we really understand such an incredible truth as this? How blessed were those who were there to look upon him! Jesus said to Thomas, “Because thou hast seen me, thou has believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (John c20 v29). We believe by faith, so how do we initially acquire that faith? Because of the written Word of God which we feel instinctively is truth, it feels right to our intellect and to our emotions. The words come to us as light. Always we are struck by that glorious light which, permeates our very being and gives us understanding.
Shortly before His suffering, Jesus said, “yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth” .
While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them”. (John c12 v35/36). We could dismiss these words as just a simple warning that He wouldn’t be with them for much longer, so He says, “Believe me now while I am still with you”. Notice that He said ‘light’ five times in that statement. In Bible numerology five equates with grace, which is God’s favour to the unworthy.
What a wonderful privilege that the words of Jesus, the Light, have been faithfully recorded so that we may be partakers of The Light of the world. One of the most awe inspiring and amazing prophecies concerning events yet to come, was given to John in Revelation. So amazing, that there are very few who are able to bear it. Even many Christians have dismissed what he saw as fantasy, the product of a sick mind! How stupid, how foolish man can be when he cannont see beyond the wisdom that this world has to offer. John was shown a vision of this present church age, and way beyond into the eternity to come. Chapter twenty one shows us the heavenly Jerusalem which will descend upon the earth after the thousand year reign of Jesus, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. A truly amazing city of immense proportions. Each outer wall will be twelve hundred miles in length. “A wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.” (v12)
The nation will be there, serving the Lord for eternity; but notice, and this is absolutely thrilling, “And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it; for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof”. (v23)
Jesus Christ, Redeemer and Saviour, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, The Lamb, the Light of the world for ever and ever and ever.
                                                      Amen!
