light

Lost and Found

Matt Otto D-Groups , ,

Darkness hides things that should be visible.

Practically speaking, we are either at darkness’ mercy or attempt to use it to our advantage. Neither approach is ultimately in our best interest. Darkness covers dangers making them impossible to avoid until it is too late, leaving us bruised. Walking into the jagged countertop corner or tripping over a tool or a toy at night can cause us to wince in pain or worse. Sometimes, we use darkness to hide our failures and poor decisions. We sneak to the fridge in the middle of the night to indulge our midnight cravings or bury our sinful lusts at the bottom of our sock drawer.

What we often experience in our everyday physical circumstances is even more cunning and corrupting in the arena of our spiritual condition. Scripture tells us that our inborn spiritual condition loves darkness rather than light and that our works are evil (John 3:19). The darkness of heart is so insidious that we deceive ourselves into thinking that we are good enough in our self-righteousness. We believe our own “religious” lies and retreat even further from the Light that offers life.

When speaking in spiritual contexts, Jesus used powerful word-pictures that we all can identify with. Jesus said that He didn’t come for the spiritually healthy, but the spiritually sick (Lk 5:31-32). He didn’t come for the spiritually rich, but for the spiritually bankrupt (Matt 5:3). The Messiah’s mission was marked by seeking and saving the lost. He came for sinners. He came for you and me. Jesus, the Redeemer, came to regain our ownership. It is a healthy spiritual exercise to remember where He found us and to rejoice in what He redeemed us from (Eph 1:7).

Take a few moments to read through the following psalm, Psalm 103:1-4:

1Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost
being, praise his holy name.

2Praise the Lord, my soul, and
forget not all his benefits—

3who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,

4who redeems your life from the pit and
crowns you with love and compassion.

The arrival of Jesus, the Glorious Light, is great news! He comes with transforming power, surprising simplicity, and rich benefits. Respond to the Light and let His glory grip you anew! We are lost no more!

Luke 19:9-10 (ESV) – “And Jesus said to [Zacchaeus], ‘Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.’”

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We’ll Leave the Light On!

Matt Otto D-Groups , ,

One of my favorite commercials used to be the Motel6 advertisements on the radio. As to why, is hard to say. Maybe it was the relatable reflections combined with their musical simplicity. Maybe it was the witty lines, delivered by the friendly voice of Tom Bodett tinged with the sound of southern hospitality. Who knows. Regardless, almost every one of the adverts ended with the memorable tag-line “We’ll leave the light on for you.” There is something incredibly reassuring to know that no matter the time or circumstances, the light is on!

In the Bible, the memorable voice was that of John the Baptist, who proclaimed the arrival of the long-awaited Light. When the priests and Levites asked him about his identity and purpose, John responded with the following words: “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said” (Jn 1:23). Interesting response, right? It is more than a humble confession, but a shifting of focus from the herald to the King of Glory. Furthermore, it is a challenge to John’s hearers to remove the barriers and the hindrances in the wilderness of their hearts and level them for Jesus’ entry. At the epicenter of the Baptist’s witness was a straightforward and lasting message: repent and believe (Matt 3:2; Jn 1:7;).

The appeal hasn’t changed for contemporary heralds of the Good News. We too are to proclaim the wonderful coming of Jesus. The message declared by John the Baptist and confirmed by Jesus Himself (Mk 1:15) is now ours to share. Jesus told his disciples that “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you” (Jn 20:21). We are witnesses to His power that changes the lives of those who are penitent and simply believe. The Light has come and is powerful to perfectly transform our dark hearts and bring new life.

Is this true of you? Has the Light entered in? If so, are you walking in the light? Is your light shining? As the little children’s song asks, “Hide it under a bushel?” Our clear and unequivocal answer must be a resounding, “No!” This Christmas, “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matt 5:19).

John 1:6-8 (ESV) – “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.”

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Scared of the Dark

Matt Otto D-Groups , ,

Have you ever been startled awake in the darkness of night and heard your house making eerie, inexplicable noises? Have you, subsequently, slipped out of bed as quietly as possible in order to investigate? In the process, have you found something that made your heart race or breath stop because you thought there was someone or something that had entered your home while you were sleeping? And, finally, did you likely discover that the corner of the dresser in your bedroom and the Lego on the floor in the hallway are likely a much greater threat than an imagined intruder? It rarely occurs to us that many of the things we fear are much less menacing and dangerous than we imagine. On the flip side, some of the things we give little attention to may be much more threatening.

The truth is, darkness itself is much more horrific than we give it credit for! The reason this is true is because the darkness described in the Bible is not simply a physical absence of light, but a very real spiritual reality and a result of sin. To put it another way, this spiritual darkness is a consequence of mankind’s initial rebellion against its Creator. In the Garden, Adam and Eve chose to steal God’s glory. They became “glory thieves” by choosing to give the glory God deserved to someone much less deserving: themselves. Simply put, they sinned or “missed the mark.” Ever since their first heist, every one of their descendants has received the all-permeating sin genome (Rom 5:12) and all of creation groans for its promised redemption (Rom 8:21-22). Despite humanity’s best intentions, it cannot break free from its sinful nature. Powerless to generate any light on their own (Is 64:6), every man, woman, and child is destined to follow in their ancestors’ footsteps. Spiritual darkness only births more spiritual darkness!

Yet, in spite of this scenario being played out in an exhaustingly repetitive sin-cycle among God’s people throughout the Old Testament, God promised that a Light would come that would bring salvation to the nations! For centuries, God spoke through the prophets of “the radiance of God’s glory” who would provide “purification for sins” (Heb 1:1-4). And when He arrived, they missed it! Shockingly, they rejected the Prince of Peace, because He didn’t fit their expectations.

Don’t miss Jesus this Christmas! He is the Great Creator and the Glorious Promise. No matter the depth and darkness of your sin or circumstances, He has come to bring freedom and new life. Welcome Him! “Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in” (Ps 24:7-9). There is no need to fear the darkness when you let the Light shine in!

Matthew 4:16 (NIV) – “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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Creator of Light and Life

Matt Otto D-Groups , , ,

There is a two-fold purpose in the Gospel of John: (1) that we might believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God and (2) that by believing in Him we might have life in His name (Jn 20:30-31). Only God is able to create and give life, because He is life. Only God is able to create and give light, because He is light (Gen 1:3; Jn 1:5). The Apostle John constantly connects these two terms, life and light, to the Savior Jesus Christ, indicating what should be obvious – only God can save and Jesus is God!

John’s Gospel is saturated with content that points to Jesus being God. For example, through the aid of the Holy Spirit, the author includes several series of “sevens” that point to the divinity of Jesus. Careful readers will notice that Jesus refers to Himself with the Old Testament revelatory name “I AM” of God (Gen 3:13-17) in seven distinct instances. For example, Jesus states, “I AM the bread of life” (6:35), “I AM the resurrection and the life” (11:25-26), and “I AM the light of the world” (8:12). Readers will also discover seven witnesses testifying to Jesus’ divinity. Finally, they will find seven miracles that demonstrate that Jesus is Almighty God. Neither the Apostle John, nor the Savior want to leave Jesus’ divinity in question.

What is so fascinating is that John begins his account of Jesus’ life in eternity past. John introduces the man, Jesus, as the divine Creator who has always been and through whom “all things were made” (Jn 1:3). He avoids a genealogy and a manger, but rather directs our attention all the way to “the beginning” (Gen 1:1; John 1:1). Our gaze speeds past the prophet Isaiah (Mark’s introduction), past the promised son of David and the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant (Matthew’s introduction), further past the creation of Adam (Luke’s introduction), and into the immeasurable, pre-existent Son, who has always been God, co-existent with the Father and the Spirit. In turn, John presents Jesus as truly great, transcendent over all that He has made!

Yet, Jesus is not simply the Creator of life and light, but He is life and light itself (Jn 1:4). Jesus’s divinity provides Him with the ability of being the Giver and Sustainer of physical life but, more importantly, spiritual life, because He is “the life and light of men” (Jn 1:4).

So, this Christmas, let His glory shine in. Let the Word shed light on what “abundant life” is – a life filled with peace, joy, and satisfaction found only in the ever constant, faithful, and loving Creator!

Genesis 1:1-3 (NIV) – “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.”

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