Christ is The Light -- are we a follower?

"The only visible sign of God in the world is the cross." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Christ is the Light of the world
He came among us
to show us the Light
the way out
of the darkness
that consumes us

Christ died
and was reborn
He is the resurrection of the Light

Christ's death on the cross
All the darkness of humankind
was upon Him
He could not escape it
He sought its removal,
but His destiny was upon Him

A prayer to the Father
amidst a grove of olive trees
in a place called Gethsemane ...
"Abba, Father,
All things are possible for You. 
Take this cup away from Me; 
Nevertheless, not what I will, 
but what You will." (Mark 14:36 NKJ)

The burden
The heaviness
of each of everyone
our sin
upon Him, who is without
taken
each step, each stripe, each lashing,
each pounding

All He embraced
All our sin
upon Himself
His destiny
His Father's will

All the darkness
that Jesus took upon Himself
separated Him
from the Love of His Father

but
in dying came rebirth
Three days
in the tomb
buried
just as He foretold

The resurrected body
of Jesus Christ
All the darkness of the world
was not enough
to overcome The Light.

"And the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness did not comprehend it." 
(John 1:5 NKJ)

The Light of God
of the Son
triumphs

Judgment is made.

What of you and me --
The very ones whose souls
He came to save

Who do you follow
Do you remain in the darkness
or has the Light
found you? 

God created us to have dominion over every creeping thing, BUT ...

On the sixth day of creation God created humans.

“²⁶Then God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. ²⁷So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. ²⁸Then God blessed them….”  (Genesis 1:26-28)

Think about that for a moment. God created us, with dominion over the fish, the birds, the cattle, EVERY CREEPING THING. 

God blessed us … and then we took advantage of  it. 

Adam and Eve gave in to their impulses and greed … they sinned.

 “¹Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, Has God indeed said, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden? ²And the woman said to the serpent, We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; ³but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die. ⁴And the serpent said to the woman, You will not surely die. ⁵For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. ⁶So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. ⁷Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.” (Genesis 3:1-7)

We were created in God’s image. It is the Lord Jesus himself who shows us what God is like, for “No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.” (John 1:18)

The (moral) image of God, as shown through Jesus Christ, is sinless. 

The first man and woman were created in a natural and moral likeness to God. When they sinned, their moral likeness to God was no more. It went out the door. As each generation of children are born they are created in the natural image of God and the moral image of their earthly father (and mother). Because of the first generations’ sin act, all generations share equally in the guilt of that sin.

But God is our creator, our ultimate creator. And it is because of His love for us in the world that He sent His Son to show us the way out of the darkness of sin into the light.  

 “¹In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the word was God. ¹⁰He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. ¹⁴And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of The Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1, 10, 14)

“¹⁶For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ¹⁷For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17)

Where are you bound?

Have you given your heart to Jesus, have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, are you walking the life path of His way for you?

Or, do you rebel against God and pursue a life filled with sin, facing the consequences thereof?

It is your choice. 

For an interactive flash presentation of the Gospel: www.thekristo.com 

The Day

The Day
Each moment
No
not each
but
many
combined
becomes
a day ...
of
light.

The Day
God created
from nothingness
and
is given
to us
who
God created
from dust.

The Day
a gift
Each day
The dawning
Sunrise to Sunset
returns
to us
Bringing
opportunity
to
be and
become
fruitful.

"God called the light Day and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day." (Genesis 1:5)

"And it was so ... And God saw that it was good ... And He rested ... And He blessed" (Genesis 1-2:3)

The Day.

The Light has come into the world

"for with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light." (Psalm 36:9)

The first light, to separate the darkness, the formless deep, was formed / created by God. It is in light, through light, that we as created beings are enabled to see and also understand.

Light -- the light comes from the sun, the moon, the stars, ...

"Then God said, Let there be light; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. God called the light Day and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day." (Genesis 1:3-5)

"Then God said, Let there be light in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years. And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth; and it was so." (Genesis 1:14-15)

"Then God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. So the evening and the morning were the fourth day." (Genesis 1:16-19)

... and from Jesus. The Light IS Jesus.

"...Let us walk in the light of the Lord." (Isaiah 2:5)

"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light." (Ephesians 5:8)

God and Spirit.
Two-thirds of the Trinity were an awareness to those who lived during Old Testament days.

The foretelling of Jesus was present, but when He came to earth as a human baby, when He grew to manhood and proceeded to do the works of His Father, the awareness of what was to be stopped. Unbelief, refusal to believe was the standard.

"Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the Lord will rise over you; And His glory will be seen upon you." (Isaiah 60:1-2)

Jesus came. He is the light that overcomes the darkness/the evilness that penetrates our very being. He came to his own, but they received him not. The peoples of Israel / Jerusalem were to be instrumental - they were a city on a hill.

"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16)

Yes, the peoples of Israel were to be instrumental in leading others to God the Father through Jesus Christ, His Son. But their light was hidden, their light did not shine to glorify God, but was tarnished.

"The Gentiles shall come to your light," (Isaiah 60:3)

The light / the revelation of Jesus, the message of the gospel was given to the Gentiles - you and me. And as Christ'as followers, we become, individually and collectively, the light of the world - we show others the way to Christ.

"... the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness ... He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes." (1 John 2:8b-11)

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." (John 1:1-5)

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14)

Before Jesus began his earthly ministry, John the Baptizer was chosen / sent by God to be a witness for Jesus Christ, the true light, "that all through him might believe." (John 1:7)
John preached repentance - a turning away from the sins of the flesh ("adultery, fornication, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries and the like" - Galatians 5:19-21) to a changed life ("love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" - Galatians 5:22-23).

Jesus, the true light, was baptized by John, the foreteller of He who is and was and is to come. Baptizing by water became a symbol, a witness of this changed life. Prophecy was fulfilled with Jesus' baptism by water.

"And John bore witness, saying I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him." (John 1:32)

"Then Jesus, when He had been baptized, came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice from heaven, saying (audibly, for all to hear), This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:16-17)

"For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has everlasting life and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." (John 3:34-36)

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:16-17)

"... the light has come into the world..." (John 3:19a)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Added Jan. 28.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Light creates form. In total darkness there is no form.

Like us, God's created beings, until we "know" God on an intimate level, we are in darkness. The light (that separates the darkness) is Jesus. He came. He suffered. He died. He was resurrected.

"He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him." (John 1:10-11)

We, the world, did not recognize / do not recognize Jesus as The Christ, "The Light," thus they were and we are in darkness.  When we believe, accept Jesus as the light that saves us from the darkness of hell and damnation, we are re-born and truly alive.

"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God ... who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:12-13)

Are you a child of The King?
Have you accepted His gift of salvation?
Do you follow in His steps?


("More About Jesus," by John Starnes, with subtitles in Portuguese)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Added Jan. 30.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"In Your light we see light." (Psalm 36:9b)

It's interesting how what we read one day says something to us and then just a few days later, there is more said on the same subject. God speaks and if we are in tune with Him, we hear, we see, our blindness is stripped away and we are in awe of what we have found.

"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy." (1 Peter 2:9-10)

"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined." (Isaiah 9:2a)

"I will bring the blind (those who do not acknowledge, understand, follow the True God) by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known, I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things I will do for them. And not forsake them. They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, who trust in carved images, who say to the molded images, 'You are our gods.' " (Isaiah 42:16-17)

"I will deliver you ... to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me." (Acts 26:17-18)

"For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (II Corinthians 4:6)

("Turn your eyes upon Jesus" by the Newsboys)

It's your choice, but don't wait

"And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake; some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt." (Daniel 12:2)

The Lord God almighty knows all who will come to everlasting life and those who will not. We do not. We are to share the Good News of His Son, Jesus Christ, to all we meet along the ways we travel. Our job is to share, to witness to all we come in contact; their response is between themselves and the Lord. We cannot make the right decision for them.

The other night on television there was a two-part episode of "Ghost Whisperer." A plane had crashed near a city and all except one (who was not even on the plane) died. But they were in limbo land. They didn't know what happened and wanted to know; upon learning, they could make the decision to go toward the light (depicted as heaven) or toward the dark (depicted as Satan and hell).

Our decisions to do what is right are not made at our death (as portrayed in this show), but while we are alive.

At death, our souls have already moved on, based on decisions made while alive. It is then too late. Do't wait until it is too late. Don't keep saying "later, later." You repeatedly say this over and over -- later, after high school, after college, after I have some fun, after this beer, after this trip, after the surgery. Later never comes. When you have died, there is no later. You are in the later and your decision is made.

Do it now. Go into the light. Be part of the light. Live life with the Father, who art in heaven.

Stay focused on Jesus

It's when we lose our focus that our belief falls away and we follow our own line of thinking. When our focus is off the almighty, our minds wander aimlessly along the path of "what will we do," "how will we make it." If we can just stay focused on Jesus, stay in His word, remember His promises, not waiver off the trail He has forged for us. Listening to, thinking on anything that is not entirely the Truth brings remorse, repercussions, pain.

Even Abraham at times thought he knew better than God and acted on those very thoughts. But his thoughts were not God's thoughts. God knows all. We know very little in comparison.

Worry ... bring anxiety ... which brings separation from the almighty Father.

Satan wants us to worry - then we will do things not pleasing to the Lord.

Abraham introduced Sarai, his wife, as his sister to the Egyptians (Genesis 12:10-20). This was a half truth as she was his half sister.

Abraham and Sarai concocted a way to have the child the Lord promised them - through Sarai's handmaiden Hagar (Genesis 16:1-16).

The future is not ours to know. The present is where we are currently. The past we have come through.

The future is everything past this moment. As the moments go by our future becomes our present and then our past.

Love each moment for the Lord, to the Lord. Plan your moments as to the Lord, to His glory. Do not look this way and that way. Stay tuned to the one who truly cares for us.

"When I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me." (Micah 7:8)

When I pass through the waters of life, the fires that try to consume me, the Lord my God will be with me. He will protect me. I will not be burned, I will not be overwhelmed. He will lead me, guide me over the paths of darkness I see before me. He will make the rough spots even so I will not trip and fall. (paraphrase of Isaiah 43:2)

And even though I pass through the valleys of intense pain and suffering, the fear that attempts to stifle me will not because of my God and Savior who is always with me. (paraphrase of Psalm 23:4)

There is no hope except in you Lord Jesus.
There is no one to trust wholly, completely, except you Lord Jesus.
No one can remove the fears that seek to swallow me. No one, that is, except you Lord Jesus.

"Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in you." (Psalm 56:3)

I believe in the Lord Jesus. I believe what I say I believe. I have witnessed the power of the Lord Jesus - His mighty hand has been upon me, upon my beloved Jimmy, in times past. He will not leave me. He remains steadfast. I must not allow any doubt to get the best of me. Doubt is fear. I have nothing to be afraid of. Jesus is right there beside me, holding my hand, cradling my head, rubbing my tummy, bringing me soothing relief.

Close the gate. ... To all that works against you. Close the gate to your doubts and fears. Close the gate and move on. Hand in hand with Jesus walk on. Close the gate. Forge ahead. Ignore the enemy. Follow Jesus. Jesus will help me overcome all my fears.

I am no better than any other.

The only difference, perhaps, is that I know I am a sinner. Jesus accepts me anyway. He offers me grace. He brings peace to my soul. When I accept Him and believe in and on Him, I can rest in His fold. Like the sheep gone astray and found.

When we stay true to all He says and obedient to His instruction it reveals our love for Him. He loves us so much he died for us. We love Him so much we stay true and obedient to Him, even unto death.

No amount of pain we suffer will ever be as much as Jesus' pain that He suffered on the cross at Calvary when He took ALL of mankind's sin upon His shoulders, His body, and gave up the ghost and died. Oh but he rose again. What glory.

Today you will be with Me in Paradise (in Heaven, in My Kingdom)." (Luke 23:43)

Every moment is one closer to being with Jesus.

Escape the darkness; walk in the Light

Friday I spoke of the darkness that comes when we are without Christ and shared a poem written during my Christ-less college days in the early 1970s. Today the Lord led me to Isaiah 59 --

(1) "Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear.
(2) But your iniquities have separated you from your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.
(3) For your hands are defiled with blood, And your fingers with iniquity; Your lips have spoken lies, Your tongue has muttered perversity.
(4) No one calls for justice, Nor does any plead for truth. They trust in empty words and speak lies, They conceive evil and bring forth iniquity.
(7) Their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed innocent blood; Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths.
(8) The way of peace they have not known, And there is no justice in their ways; They have made themselves crooked paths; whoever takes that way shall not know peace.
(9) Therefore justice is far from us; Nor does righteousness overtake us; We look for light, but there is darkness! For brightness, but we walk in blackness!
(10) We grope for the wall like the blind, And we grope as if we had no eyes; We stumble at noonday as at twilight; We are as dead men in desolate places.
(12) For our transgressions are multiplied before You, And our sins testify against us; For our transgressions are with, And as for our iniquities, we know them:
(13) In transgressing and lying against the Lord, And departing from our God, Speaking oppression and revolt, Conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.
(15) Then the Lord saw it and it displeased Him That there was no justice.
(16) He saw that there was no man, And wondered that there was no intercessor; Therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; And His own righteousness it sustained Him.
(20) 'The Redeemer will come to Zion, And to those who turn from transgression ...,' says the Lord."

Hence, we come to John 3: 16-17 which says:
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God did not send His son into the world to condemn the wold, but that the world through Him might be saved."

Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ?
Do you have a personal relationship with Him?
Have you accepted Him as your Savior and redeemer?
Have you accepted His ways as your ways?
Have you turned from disobedient living for yourself to obedience in and of Him and His ways?
Are you walking in the light -- His light?

Where do you stand?

God speaks through His word to those who listen with their heart.

Ramblings, musings, etc.

Ramblings, musings, etc. These writings may take you nowhere, but then again you may arrive at some profound thought meant only for you. Herein lies a conglomeration of thoughts from yesterday and today.

God's holy word is hidden in my heart so I have Him always with me, so that I won't sin against Him. Being aware of Him always.

Since we became children of the light -- Jesus is the light -- we should not scurry away like fearful little mice and hide ourselves under the blanket to escape or avoid whatever may develop. When we profess to be children of the light, we must walk as such. We are among those called out of that darkness that surrounds us. Darkness is everywhere. Even in broad daylight darkness abounds. It is in the evilness of others -- their deeds -- by speech or action. Darkness is also within our minds, when we are drawn to "woe is me" thinking and stay there for days, weeks, months. Darkness can take over the best of intentions if we allow it. Every day, every moment we have the choice to turn our lives around, to seek after God or follow in the steps of Satan.

"The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple." (Psalm 119:130)

What does that mean? Might it mean God's word provides meaning to those who are undecided? We have all been undecided at one time or another and some of us still are. To me, Jesus, God is Light, The Word. To walk in the light, to walk with Jesus, to walk in the Word, is to live in obedience to His commandments. But what do you think it means?

God's commandments are more than the Ten. More than merely doing what they say. Must have a relationship, must see a need to have a relationship, must realize you are a sinner and that Jesus died for your sins. Must desire deep within your soul the spirit of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost to penetrate your every being.

"Let no one deceive you with empty words." Therefore do not be partakers with them. ... have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. ... see then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming* the time. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is." (Ephesians 5: 6-7, 11, 15-17) (*Make the most of every opportunity because the days are evil.)

~~~~~

My job
My future
My goal
My dream.

Much insecurity.

Must trust,
have faith

Believe God will do
ALL
He said He would.

I too must be committed.

Listen to me,
He says.
Do your work,
BUT
Follow your dream.
Stay focused
on ME
and
on
the
Dream.

~~~~~


God tells us in Psalm 37: 7-8 to wait patiently, to cease from anger, to forsake wrath, to not fret because of the harm it causes. Well yes, there is much harm caused by not doing those things. Increased anxiety, sickness.

He tells us in Ecclesiastes 7: 8-9, "The end of a thing is better than its beginning, And the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry. For anger rests in the bosom of fools."

And in Proverbs 14: 15-17, are these words of wisdom:
"The prudent man considers well his steps. A wise man fears and departs from evil, But a fool rages and is self-confident. He who is quick-tempered acts foolishly."

"A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. " The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness." (Proverbs 15: 1-2)

"Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established." (Proverbs 16: 3)

"When a man's way pleases the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be a peace with him." (Proverbs 16: 7)

"A man's heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps." (Proverbs 16: 9)

"... let us lay aside every weight (hindrance), and the sin (of unbelief) which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance (patience) the race that is set before us." (Hebrews 12: 1)

"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate (practices self-discipline) in all things ... therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty (not aimlessly) ... But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest ... I myself should become disqualified." (I Corinthians 9: 24-27)

Struggles abound; Light chases away darkness and gloom

My new work week hours begin next week. Obituary changes begin next week too. ... earlier deadlines, cost increases, etc.
Looking on the bright side, God knew this. So there's something good to come out of having Monday and Tuesday off and working weekends. I can't imagine what it is, but He knows.

So, instead of complaining, which I've been prone to do, I should, as has been pointed out, be grateful I have a job no matter what the hours.

Enough said.

However, talking, sharing about what's going on in your life can be beneficial in reducing the stress. By keeping your feelings within, things are merely building up until eventually you explode and every bit of pain you're feeling rears its ugly head and spews forth.

Also interesting, sort of, is the number of people who have current jobs but don't know if they have future jobs with a given company. Being offered a job and accepting the job offer does not mean their future is secure. It might be for a few months or a year or longer. It might be. It might not be as well.

The world is a scary place right now. How we get through it shows others much about ourselves. We are all human. We all have struggles. One struggle is just as important as another. It is not fair to think your struggles are more important than another. You don't know what another is going through, what blows they've been dealt. My struggles are just as important to me as your struggles are to you. You may think your struggles are bigger, insurmountable, but there is always someone somewhere whose struggles top yours.

It is not about who can get to the top of the empire of despair. It is easy to fall into a depression. It is much harder to lift your eyes upward ... to the Lord and wait on Him, praying He will enable you to see this through, that He will be with you every step of the way.

Of course, if you do not know the Lord, if you have not accepted the Lord as your personal Savior, then looking up doesn't show you anything - you just see darkness all around you.

Jesus is the light.

"I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." (John 8: 12)

Light chases away darkness and gloom.

Have you ever taken a cave tour? The lights are turned out and it is pitch black. Can't see a thing, not even your hand in front of your face. Then someone turns on a flashlight and the darkness vanishes.

There is light at the end of every tunnel. But you must seek it to find it.

Click here for interactive flash presentation of the Gospel.