In the Dark or the Glorious Light?

by Terry Wane Benton

Jesus describes the real situation of men and men's relationship to God and truth by comparing Himself to light that has come into the world, and that men are condemned and in the dark. The condemnation of man is that man is given a wonderful chance to come out of moral filth and darkness by coming to the light (John 3:19), and instead, "men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." Others come to the light, learn that their sins are exposed, and want to be cleansed, desiring the knowledge and light that come from God (John 3:21).

Jesus said that "everyone practicing evil hates the light" (John 3:20). This is why Jesus got such a negative response from many of the leading Jews. He said regarding people of the world that "it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil" (John 7:7). This is why they crucified Jesus. They hated Him for testifying to the truth about their real relationship to sin, and their lack of a real relationship with God. Men tend to want God to be a God who loves and accepts us just as we are, but the practicing sinner must come to God to get cleaned up, not for God to adjust to man. People will hate it if you teach that all men must repent of sins (Acts 17:30-31; Luke 13:3). People will love you if you teach that God is like them and accepts any choice of lifestyle that they want to follow. God came into the world to save man from sin and condemnation, not to leave men alone to remain in sin. In the Light of Jesus, we see our sins more clearly and seek to clean up. In the dark, we cannot see the truth, and some become accustomed to the dark and hate the light.