Your Light Has Come!

"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 arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you." (1)

"Your light has come." Jesus is here prophetically represented as the "light". "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" (2) "Light has come into the world and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." (3) "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." (4) "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." (5) "A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light... I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness." (6) "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." (7).

Those who receive Him and believe in Him are admonished, "You are the light of the world... Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." (8)

"Through social relationships, Christianity comes in contact with the world. Everyone who receives divine illumination from the source of life is to brighten the pathway of those who know not the Light of life. "Social power, sanctified by the grace of Christ, must be improved in winning souls to the Saviour. Let the world see that we are not selfishly absorbed in our own interests, but that we desire others to share our blessings and privileges. Let them see that our religion does not make us unsympathetic or exacting. Let all who profess to have found Christ, minister as He did for the benefit of men." (9)

We are channels through whom the Lord can send his light and grace to neighbors and friends and thus to the world. After all, making friends for God is making friends for eternity.

1. Isaiah 60:1, 2.
2. John 1:4, 5.
3. John 3:19.
4. John 8:12.
5. John 9:5.
6. John 12:35, 36, 46.
7. Isaiah 9:2 and Matthew 4:16.
8. Matthew 5:14, 16.
9. God's Amazing Grace, p. 125.