“In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. … That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.” John 1:4-5, 9 NKJV
Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden … Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14, 16 NKJV
This is not a contradiction. When we say, “the moon is shining bright,” it has no internal power, but is reflecting sunlight. So we are the light of the world when we reflect Jesus, “the Light of the World.”
The Bible starts: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.” Genesis 1:1-5 NKJV
2 Corinthians 4:3-6 NKJV is the scriptural admonition to take God’s Good News to every possible person: “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
“Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer … ‘Here I am.'” Isaiah 58:8-9 NKJV
The New Testament continues: “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.” Ephesians 5:8-11 NKJV
The apostle Peter sometimes followed Jesus afar off, but Jesus, “The Light of the World,” said of him, “Upon this rock (Peter) I will build My church.” When Peter preached on the day of Pentecost, 3,000 people responded to the invitation to personally believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Peter said, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God …” 1 Peter 2:9-10 NKJV
God‘s Holy Spirit inspired John to pen the last book of the Bible. Revelation 21:21-23 NKJV says: “The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.”
“That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name … And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:9-14 NKJV
Here’s how you can follow the True Light: Admit you’ve sinned, and ask God to forgive you. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ personally, and invite everyone possible to receive the gift of God, eternal life, in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Let your light shine.