Feb 9: It will all make sense.

Jn 8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

The light bulb is one of the best inventions by man. It revolutionized the way see everything around us, when our natural source of light, the sun, disappears into the night. We no longer need to go to bed as soon as it becomes dark outside, or worry about running out of candles or firewood. Thanks to the lightbulb and of course more modern versions of artificial light, plenty of activity happens at night like shopping, dining, travel, and even sports! Things that previously depended on the sun being out now could be done at night thanks to the amazing bulb invention. It’s hard to imagine life without the light bulb in this day and age.

For the woman caught in the act of adultery and then pardoned without repercussions (John 8:1-12), it was much larger than a lightbulb moment though. Everything around her suddenly lit up with the supernatural light of Jesus. It was like a thousand LED bulbs shone in her life like a floodlight. What she did in darkness deserved death in accordance to the law of Moses, and perhaps she was ready for it too. But when Jesus stepped in and not only saved her from her being stoned, but also forgave her for all her sins, she knew this man was not like the others.

They say ‘perspective changes everything’. Well, Jesus does more than just change perspective. He lights up the entire place for us to see everything clearly, no matter which angle we look at it. The Bible compares our lives on earth as to living in darkness. Not in the physical realm, but spiritual. A life filled with lies and lust, envy and anger, selfishness and greed. A life where our feelings become our gods, and self-satisfaction becomes our priority. And we get so used to the darkness, that it becomes normal to us and even start loving it (John 3:19). So the only way to come out of it is when someone lights up place and exposes everything around us. Jesus is that light source. When He shows up, there is no place for darkness. John 1:4-5 says this about Jesus “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shined in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” I love this old testament prophecy about Jesus in Isaiah 9:2 “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.”

But there is something deeper in today’s scripture. Notice the words of Jesus “He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” Why does Jesus use the words “follow” and “walk” if all it takes is for Him to show up in our lives and bring light into it? Jesus could have said “He who believes in me shall not remain in darkness..” I think there is more to it than Jesus just showing up when we accept Him into our lives. There is a following involved. It’s hard to come up with an earthly analogy to explain this, but it’s almost like this light exists in another realm altogether. You can be living in this world but still experience it as a follower of Jesus, when others around don’t! And the one who walks (or practices) the commandments of Christ continues to experience His light.

I can say this one thing with confidence from my journey of following Jesus. I might not understand everything that is happening around me. But I do know that as long as I am following Jesus, He will guide me in the perfect path. It’s not a dark, hopeless, meaningless path. It’s one that has been lit up, all the way to the eternal shore. Follow Him and it will all make sense.