September 26, 2010

Following the Light

John 8:12

“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

— 

Are you afraid of the dark? Many people are. My grandchildren need a night light. Otherwise they cannot sleep.

Physical darkness is one thing, but there is also spiritual darkness. How can people who want to walk with God find their way in a dark world?

Jesus provides the answer. “Follow me!” he said to each of his disciples. “Follow me!” is what he says to every believer. Amid the shadows of moral confusion and the gray gloom of guilt, Jesus is the light of the world! When we follow him, we will never walk in darkness.

While living in tropical countries, I learned that when the sun sets, it becomes dark very quickly. Sometimes there is no power, and then you are totally in the dark unless you have a flashlight, candle, or some other source of light. I was always glad that I had a light of some kind.

For us as believers, Jesus is our source of light. We do not have to be afraid of the dark. We will never have to experience darkness, because we “have the light of life.” John writes about Jesus in John 1:4-5: “In him was life, and that life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” The darkness of evil will never overcome the light of Jesus. Hallelujah!

“Shine, Jesus, shine” into the darkest corners of the world and expose every evil thing. Help me to follow you, the light of the world. Brighten my path as I walk with you. Amen.

About the author — Adrian A. Helleman

Dr. Adrian Helleman served as a pastor in British Columbia before being called to serve as a missionary-teacher in the Philippines. He and his wife, Wendy, later taught philosophy at Moscow State University in Russia, and then philosophy and theology at the University of Jos in Nigeria. They have also lectured in Canada, the United States, South Africa, and Tanzania. They have three children and three grandchildren.

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