As my mother aged, she had difficulty sleeping through the night. Instead of just lying awake, she would putter around the house straightening, rearranging or doing things she had not had time to do during the day.
Now I find myself doing the same. So I leave a soft light on in every room just to make sure I can more easily see where I want to go without stumbling or stepping on something, because it can be hard to see in the dark. The same thing is true in a spiritual sense.
In Scripture, darkness can symbolize God’s judgment. When God judged Egypt because of Pharaoh’s refusal to obey God’s command and let the Israelites go, He spread darkness over the land. “No one could see anyone else or leave his place for three days. Yet all the Israelites had light” (Exodus 10:23). When Jesus took our sins on Himself and bore the judgment that should have been ours on the cross, darkness fell on the earth for three hours (Matthew 27:45). In a day yet to come, at the end of the world, right before the final return of Jesus Christ, the world will be plunged into darkness (Revelation 16:10).
The increasing spiritual and moral darkness described in this issue of Decision is making it more and more difficult for people without Jesus to “see” where they are going. They seem to be stumbling themselves or stepping on others. Since they have no fear of God, they may have knowledge, but lack wisdom in how to use it (Proverbs 9:10). They may be super connected through their cellphones and social media, yet they seem to be almost narcissistic in their self-centeredness. They can’t “see” clearly. They need a Night Light (Matthew 4:16).
Read 1 John 1:1-10
Through a Personal Encounter With Jesus 1 John 1:1
- Who or what was the Word of Life that John proclaimed? 1 John 1:1; John 1:14.
- From the Gospel of John 1:4-5, how is the Word of Life related to the Light?
- List the phrases in John 1:1-3 that describe who the Light is. Put each into your own words.
- Who was John? Matthew 4:18-24.
- What proof did John give that his message was based on a firsthand account of his personal encounter with the Word? 1 John 1:1.
- What other personal encounters with Jesus during the three years as a disciple did John have that you can remember? Give references.
- What three encounters would have been especially etched on John’s memory? Matthew 17:1-8; John 19:25-27; 20:19-20.
- Has the Light penetrated your life yet? When have you personally encountered Jesus? Write out your testimony as if you were sharing briefly with someone who is not saved.