Pastor column: Jesus Christ is the light of the world

Rev. J. Patrick Street

As a boy, Robert Louis Stevenson was intrigued by the work of the old lamplighter who went about with a ladder and a torch, setting the street lights ablaze for the night. One evening in Edinburgh, Scotland, as young Robert stood watching with childish fascination, his parents heard him exclaim, "Look, look! There is a man out there punching holes in the darkness!"

With one statement, Robert Louis Stevenson summed up the best that man can do − punching holes in the darkness. But God’s plan was sending the Lord Jesus Christ into this world to accomplish, not just to punch gaping holes in the spiritual darkness. He came to dispel the darkness. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

This image of light is a powerful one, certainly rich with meaning. Light is the source of all life. Life without Jesus is impossible for He is the Source of all life’s existence.

Rev. J. Patrick Street
Rev. J. Patrick Street

Light is everything, what better way to describe Christ

Do you see just how much this image shows us? Light is everything. Without light there is nothing. What better way to describe Christ. He is everything. He is the creator and sustainer of life. He is the light of the world. And that light is the life of men. Do you see the parallels? Do you see how light works? John was right on when he called Jesus the light.

John 1 tells us, “Through him [Jesus] all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men” (vs. 3-4). God's divine plan for life’s transformation comes by establishing a connection with Jesus, the Light of the world. To experience the transformation, we need to follow certain steps:

  • Step 1: Connect with Jesus. We must be plugged into the Source of light. We need to establish a personal relationship with Jesus and rely on His power to bring about change in our lives.

  • Step 2: Consume God's Word. By regularly reading and meditating on God's Word, we can receive the light it offers (Psalm 119:130).

  • Step 3: Commit to God's Message, Ministry, Mission. We must actively participate in God's work. By living out our faith … reflecting God's light to the world (Matthew 5:16).

  • Step 4: Cultivate Righteous Living by aligning our thoughts, words and actions with God's principles (Proverbs 4:18). By living righteously, we reflect God's light and glory to His name.

  • Step 5: Claim God's Promises. By declaring His promises with faith, we can see them manifest (Job 22:28). Our words have the power to establish and bring light into our circumstances.

Do you see God’s divine plan? Do you see the power of the light being plugged into Jesus, the Light of the world? He’s the energy that we need to live a transformed life. Life is found in Jesus and through Jesus. There’s no other.

Rev. J. Patrick Street is the lead pastor of Redeemer Church in Marion. He can be reached at coachpatstreet@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Jesus is the Light of the world we need to transform lives

Advertisement