Jesus came to the earth to bring the "true" light of heaven.  "The true light that gives light to every man" (John 1:7,9).  He flipped the "spiritual" light switch that allowed mankind to see their Creator in a "new" light - a purified and undiminished light.   Only through Jesus Christ can we see the Father as He was meant to be seen. "He who has seen Me has seen the Father" (John 14:9b). The "spiritual" light that Jesus brought to the world works as heavenly laser eye surgery, miraculously transforming spiritually blind "natural" eyes into "spiritual" seeing eyes, when we believe.  Squinting eyes, barely able to see the next step in front of them are restored to 20/20 vision - opening the eye to a world the naked eye could never hope to see and bringing the heavenly Father into view in all His glory and majesty.  "One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see" (John 9:25b).

 

(John 8:12)

 

We depend so much on the physical light which the sun provides, but we easily dismiss or ignore the greater spiritual light of the Son of God which has come into the world.  We depend on one sun for our physical needs, and so we must depend on one Son for our spiritual needs: "Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."  Jesus is the Light that we are meant to follow.  If we are willing He will lead us, not only in this world, but all the way to eternity.  He will walk with us straight through this life into heaven.  But we must walk in His light. Jesus is the true light. He will guide our feet, where our physical eyes could never take us. "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105).

We live in a world filled with artificial lights which deceive people into believing they do not need the light which Jesus Christ brings.  The devil and his cohorts parade around as "angels of light" casting their counterfeit shadows on the filth, depravity, immorality and corruption of this world; causing many to turn a deaf ear and blind ear to their own tragic condition.  Jesus came as the Light of the world to expose our sin and to give us sight  "and release from darkness for the prisoners" (Isaiah 61:1b).
Sadly, men continue to love darkness rather than light, "because their deeds [are] evil" (John 3:19).  Praise God that though men may resist His glorious light, they cannot thwart His plans.  Let us thank our Father for the "spiritual" eyes we have given through Jesus Christ His Son, which enable us to behold "His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14)!  May our eyes always be "ever on the Lord," for His eyes are always upon us (Psalm 25:15).  "Your eyes are open to all the ways of men" (Jeremiah 32:19).

In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
 

Jesus came into the world to provide the light necessary to open our "spiritual" eyes so that we could see God the Father and illuminate for us the way of life. "For You have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life" (Psalm 56:13).  The necessary switch to turn that light on, as we studied yesterday, is to "believe in the One He has sent" (John 6:29). Jesus became for us the "wisdom from God - that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption" (1 Corinthians 1:30).  He opened our eyes to see our Creator in a deeply personal and intimate way; and gave us the vision necessary to live the abundantly full and blessed life the Father desires for us to experience.  

God has given us the Spirit of Wisdom to guide us along the path of life (Isaiah 11:2). "I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths.  When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, and when you run, you will not stumble" (Proverbs 4:11-12).  Walking with our "spiritual" eyes wide open requires wisdom.  The Holy Spirit illuminates the Scriptures for us and provides the wisdom we need to progress down the path the Lord has placed before us.  He allows us to see the obstacles before we come upon them.  He increases our faith as we stand on His promises, and reminds us that He has already gone ahead of us and prepared the way.  He gives us courage to face the looming mountains, discernment to avoid the potholes, and wisdom to not stray from the straight and narrow path that leads to life (Matthew 7:14). 

"But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.  The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble" (Proverbs 4:18-19).

This afternoon, as our natural vision is being bombarded with all the enticements and evils of this present world, let us take a necessary time out and fix our eyes on Jesus and bask in the beauty of the Lord as He shines the light of His Word into our hearts and minds. "Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you" (v.25).  He is right in front of you preparing the way for you to walk; "making level paths for your feet" (v.26a); and "keeping your foot from evil" (v.27b).  And His voice comes behind you as your rear guard telling you the way you should go: "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it" (Isaiah 30:21).  May we not fail in listening and being obedient to His voice.  He will never lead us astray; He is a faithful and trustworthy guide who will lead us straight into the arms of our Heavenly Father where we will bask in the embrace of His love for all eternity.  May our obedience to follow Him with wisdom lead others toward that glorious path of life.  May we repent of ever getting in the way, or becoming an obstacle in the path of any other person who is making their way down that glorious light-filled road into the arms of the patiently waiting Father for His prodigal to come home. May our lives only further increase the light in this world so that all may find their way home!

The LORD blesses His people with peace."
(Psalm 29: 1-4, 7, 9-11)