Showing posts with label God is Light. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God is Light. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

LIGHT HAS DAWNED - Reflections at Christmastime on the Light of Jesus - God is portrayed in Scripture as full of light. Scripture says that God Himself will be the light source for the New Jerusalem. Isaiah tells us, “The Lord will be your everlasting light.” John goes further, saying, “The Lamb is its lamp.”). John saw what Isaiah couldn’t: The God who is the city’s light is the Messiah Himself. This present world is still cursed with sin and suffering, but these obstacles can’t trump joy or diminish the light that dawned at Christ’s incarnation. He has already come, and with Him came light, hope, and redemption — the down payment of this world’s final transformation, when we'll experience His brightness firsthand. The people Jesus spoke to lived without streetlights. If they didn’t have a lamp and a means to light it, they groped in darkness, vulnerable to assailants. They understood what it meant when Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life”. Jesus didn’t say, “I’ll point you to the light” or “I’ll give you the light.” He said, “I am the light.” The only Light. John tells us in his Gospel that Jesus is “the true light that gives light to everyone” and the light that “shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not overcome it”. I love that phrase from John 1:9, which says that Jesus came as the light that “enlightens every man”. I think it reflects the fact that all people in history have benefited from the coming of Christ, and His redemptive life and death — even those who reject Him. “The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.”

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Light Has Dawned

Reflections at Christmastime on the Light of Jesus

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God is portrayed in Scripture as full of light. Scripture says that God Himself will be the light source for the New Jerusalem. Isaiah tells us, “The Lord will be your everlasting light. John goes further, saying, “The Lamb is its lamp. John saw what Isaiah couldn’t: The God who is the city’s light is the Messiah Himself. This present world is still cursed with sin and suffering, but these obstacles can’t trump joy or diminish the light that dawned at Christ’s incarnation. He has already come, and with Him came light, hope, and redemption — the down payment of this world’s final transformation, when we'll experience His brightness firsthand.

Y RANDY ALCORN 

 

One day I got a late start on a bike ride and went too far.

By the time I turned around, I found myself miles from home on a trail with absolutely no light.

At times I could not see the trail’s edge, and I had no clue what was on either side.

I was in the dark. Alone.

Or at least I thought so, until I felt a presence and realized I’d just passed someone within inches.

I could easily have run into him or her. I don’t remember being afraid of the dark until that night.

I had no light and couldn’t flip a switch or call someone to solve my problem.

When I finally made it to the dim lights of civilization, I was flooded with relief... and sheer happiness!

The people Jesus spoke to lived without streetlights. If they didn’t have a lamp and a means to light it, they groped in darkness, vulnerable to assailants.

They understood what it meant when Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Jesus didn’t say, “I’ll point you to the light” or “I’ll give you the light.”

He said, “I am the light.”

The only Light.

John tells us in his Gospel that Jesus is “the true light that gives light to everyone” and the light that “shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:95).

I love that phrase from John 1:9, which says that Jesus came as the light that “enlightens every man” (NASB).

I think it reflects the fact that all people in history have benefited from the coming of Christ, and His redemptive life and death — even those who reject Him.

“The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned” (Matthew 4:16).

God is portrayed in Scripture as full of light.

He has a bright radiance, seen by Moses and Elijah and Isaiah and the apostle John.

During Christ’s transfiguration, the appearance of His face changed, and His clothing “became as bright as a flash of lightning” (Luke 9:29, NIV).

He appeared to Paul and blinded him on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3-9).

The apostle John is emphatic: “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5).

Scripture says that God Himself will be the light source for the New Jerusalem.

Isaiah tells us, “The Lord will be your everlasting light” (Isaiah 60:19).

And “Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn” (Isaiah 60:3, NIV).

But John goes further, saying, “The Lamb is its lamp” (Revelation 21:23, NIV).

He saw what Isaiah couldn’t: The God who is the city’s light is the Messiah Himself.

This present world is still cursed with sin and suffering, but these obstacles can’t trump joy or diminish the light that dawned at Christ’s incarnation.

He has already come, and with Him came light, hope, and redemption — the down payment of this world’s final transformation, when we'll experience His brightness firsthand.

Randy Alcorn (@randyalcorn) is the author of fifty-some books and the founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries

https://www.epm.org/blog/2017/Nov/29/light-christmas-jesus


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Sunday, November 11, 2018

THE TEN VIRGINS AND UNSPEAKABLE JOY AT MIDNIGHT - God is Light, He loves light, He creates light, He sheds light, He desires light. So the Lord also expects light from and His people. The light of God in our lives comes from His Holy Spirit, and oil has always been associated with the Spirit's ministry in the lives of believers. Burning oil produces light. The choice to light our lamps belongs to us. The gift of the Holy Spirit has been given to all true “virgins,” their lives illuminated beautifully for all the world to see, and to be ready! At midnight, when the Bridegroom suddenly appears, our joy will be unspeakable.

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Image result for images parable of the ten virginsAt Midnight The Bridegroom Suddenly Appears
Get Your Lamps Lit!

“Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world: he that follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but will have the Light of life." (John 8:12)
"Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
“Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
“And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!' Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'
“But the wise answered, saying, 'No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.' And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. (Matthew 25:1-10)
During the feast of Tabernacles in Yeshua's (Jesus') day, the Temple priests would set up four great lampstands with golden lampholders, which they would light with the aid of enormous ladders in the Temple courtyard.
The lighting of these lamps began the celebration of the "Great Hosannah" (Hoshannah Rabbah, in Hebrew).
The celebration went on in to the wee hours -- with music and dancing and rejoicing, while the beautiful lights lit up the night.
Jerusalem was a breathtaking, illuminated city on a hill.
The following morning the Jewish people would recite the prayer for the eighth day of the feast –
"Be thou praised, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who makest light and causes darkness, who makest peace and createst all: the light of the world as the treasure of life…" Yeshua said, "I am the Light of the world."
God is Light, He loves light, He creates light, He sheds light, He desires light.
Lamps with oil produce light, both for those who carry them and for those who see the light bearers.
"You are the light of the world," He said.
So the Lord also expects light from and His people.
The light of God in our lives comes from His Holy Spirit, and oil has always been associated with the Spirit's ministry in the lives of believers. Burning oil produces light.
If we are spiritual "virgins" because we are betrothed to one Heavenly Husband, we ought to bear His light in this dark world.
Yet He has told us that some virgins will not have the wisdom to do it, so it is a warning to us; a warning not to quench the Spirit, but be filled with Him and be the light of the world.
Some of us, though virgins, have been walking in darkness. This could change.
The choice to light our lamps belongs to us. The gift of the Holy Spirit has been given to all true virgins.
The wise among us will "buy oil" and maintain our lamps thoroughly filled.
To "buy oil" means to "spend time" with the One who supplies it, asking Him to fill us up, and to clean out the impurities in our "lamps."
You know what this means for you personally, and I know what it means for me.
We ought to think about the joy of the wedding, and prepare our hearts with His light... illuminated beautifully for all the world to see, and to be ready!
At midnight, when the Bridegroom suddenly appears, our joy will be unspeakable.
 Image result for images parable of the ten virgins
 Image result for images parable of the ten virginsImage result for images parable of the ten virgins
Image result for images parable of the ten virginsImage result for images parable of the ten virgins