As I’ve done a few times in the past, today I want to introduce you to a guest blogger. His name is Mpumi Nyembe and he runs the blog Bought By His Blood. A few months ago Mpumi (who is also a monthly supporter of Full of Eyes) did an interview with me about my faith and walk with the Lord and art ministry. It was a joy to get to know him better in that way and I’m very grateful to him for contributing his thoughts to the Full of Eyes blog today.
“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
It becomes increasingly more apparent that we live in a broken and dark world. The recent worldwide tragic events occurring around us solidify the words spoken by Christ in Matthew chapter 24. These events, that we do and don’t hear about, serve as signs of the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus and to the impending final judgment (Revelation 20:11-15).
Dark world
If you were to walk around in the dark, it wouldn’t be easy finding your final destination, nor would it be easy to find whatever you were looking for. This is the problem facing the world. Whatever the people in this world are looking for and the direction in which they are heading in, it’s all being done in darkness; meaning that the world is blinded to the reality of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 4:4). The treasures and pleasures in which people indulge, searching for satisfaction, are not as worthwhile as they would believe them to be. The heart of man has put their trust in things that oppose God leaving them separated from God–who is light (1 John 1:5). People thus separated from God cannot “see” God nor do they have the light of God in their hearts. This leaves the world in a godless state and open to all kinds of evil. But Jesus in His perfect wisdom, has shown the world how it can see through its darkness and fake reality when He reveals Himself as the ultimate solution (John 3:21).
The Light of the world
There is no other ‘light’ in this world that can pierce the darkness in our hearts other than the light that comes from Christ. And this light consists in His revelation of the eternal glory of God to His people (John 17:25-26). Jesus has come to reconcile us back to God through His death and resurrection that we may have the privilege of knowing God, and only through Him can we see out of the darkness and have any hope in this life (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). All those who follow Him will “never walk in darkness” because in Christ we carry the Light of Life, that is the light of the knowledge of God’s glory dwelling in us (2 Corinthians 4:6).
Such is the heart of God that Christ–departing heaven and His everlasting glory–came down into this dark world so that we may see and by believing in Him, be set free (John 3:19-21). He humbled Himself for the world, even though He knew that the deeds of men were evil.
Anyone who offers you peace that doesn’t come from Christ is not offering you a true everlasting peace. Likewise with joy and love and all the things people search for in this life to be happy. The offerings of the world cannot compare to the satisfaction that comes from the heart-satisfying attributes of God in Christ which never fade and never change. Sadly, “the god of this world (Satan) has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the LIGHT of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4).
Lights of the world
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”
– Matthew 5:14
This is where we as followers of Christ need to reflect His glory and His light. In spite of the darkness that surrounds us, Christ has called each one of us who follow Him a “light of the world”. He goes on to say that a city on a hill cannot be hidden nor do people light their lamps and hide it under an object (Matthew 5:15). If we are truly His, it is inevitable that “our light [will] shine before men”. This is the light that comes from Christ dwelling in us through the Holy Spirit. The more love that we show others, the more holy our lives are and the more we love Christ beyond anything in this world, the more we will be enabled to stand out and reflect Christ to a world which is currently in desperate need of Him!
Because of the darkness that surrounds us, being a follower of Christ in this day and age is not an easy way of life. We will face temptations from all angles and opposition as we endure this life. Therefore we must keep our lamps burning (Luke 12:35) and our lights shining that we may see through the darkness of this world. We do this by abiding in Christ continuously and as we keep our lights shining the world will see more of Christ through us.
