Illumination
Illumination
Illumination
Illumination
Jesus is the perfect gift! Gifts must be received. The light of Jesus is available to us. He offers us the best life now and forever. He is the clarifying solution to everything we face.
“I can’t see. I am confused. I don’t know where to go. I don’t have any idea what to do next. I feel all alone. I don’t know how to fix it. I am not sure what to do next. I am in such a fog, it’s like I am blind.”
We have all said these things to ourselves and most of us have said them out loud to others. We all have a darkness problem.
Darkness = Confusion, Isolation, & Death
Our life can be difficult. Our work can be difficult. Solutions can seem far away, as if hidden in complete obscurity. We can have trouble getting on the same page with others. We can be clueless about what to do next. We can find ourselves in darkness.
The problem with darkness is that there is no light. We stub our toe at night because we don’t turn on the light. Yep, it’s that simple. And, worse, most of our darkness is self-inflicted. Our deepest confusion is most often driven by our own narrow perceptions and selfish ambitions.
We move into darkness when we want things that are not ours, not good for us, and not good for others. We place ourselves in darkness when we try to make something fulfill us that is not able to fulfill us.
An obsession with living and working our way leads to death.
Light = Clarity, Accessibility, & Life
We were made to live in the light.
Light provides clarity and allows us to see past our current circumstances. Light gives access to solutions that lead to life. Light allows us to see, simultaneously, what is best for others and ourselves. Light is the source of life.
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” – [.no-reftag]John 8:12[.no-reftag]
Jesus says He is the source of light and life. Jesus promises that those who follow Him will be able to see and live forever. This is a promise worth investigating because it leads to a life full of clarity, accessibility, and ultimately glory that lasts forever.
The World Started with Light
The first chapter in the Gospel of John contains some of the most unlocking truths in the entire Bible — providing key illuminations and practical help for our life and work.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” – [.no-reftag]John 1:1-4[.no-reftag]
Jesus was always with God. He is the Creator. Jesus is The Word that spoke everything, including light, into existence (Genesis 1:1-3). Jesus is the author of life and light.
Jesus was not created as a “Plan B” after humans failed. Since Jesus is the perfect source of life and love, we want to live and work according to the way we were created. We see with great clarity in this text that there is nothing in our life or work that is not ultimately about Jesus. We were created by Jesus (Colossians 1:16), given power through Jesus, and we should do everything for the glory of Jesus (Romans 11:36).
We Were Made for Light
“In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” – [.no-reftag]John 1:5-6[.no-reftag]
Jesus, the source of life and light, has provided light for all people — allowing everyone access to God (Colossians 1:19). And, better yet, there is no darkness that can overcome the solution Jesus provides (Colossians 2:13-15).
The light of Jesus drives out all darkness. “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” – [.no-reftag]John 1:5[.no-reftag]
The light of Jesus makes solutions appear accessible for the biggest and most simple obstacles we face. Light, which is synonymous with God’s word, provides a lamp for our feet and a light on our path (Psalm 119:105). The perfect truth and light of Jesus is relevant to every situation we face.
Light Can Be Rejected
“The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.” – [.no-reftag]John 1:9-11[.no-reftag]
Jesus, the perfectly pure light, was ignored and rejected, even as He walked the earth. We each are prone to get confused and go astray, each going our own way (Isaiah 53:6). Most of the very people who claimed to be waiting for the Savior actually despised Jesus, either desiring to kill Him or wanting nothing to do with Him. Knowing others rejected pure light is good for us to remember so we won’t become tricked into rejecting the clarity Jesus offers.
People often want the desires of their heart more than they want a perfect solution. Tim Keller said, “What is the source of evil in the world? It’s basically the self-centeredness of the human heart. The self-centeredness, everything is about me. Me first. That’s where the misery of the world comes from.”
This is a helpful reminder for each of us, when we are stuck in darkness, to turn to Jesus for answers. And, a reminder that when we have a solution based on the perfect light of Jesus, we may too be rejected.
Light Is a Gift to Receive
“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.” – [.no-reftag]John 1:9-13[.no-reftag]
Jesus is the perfect gift! Gifts must be received. When we receive the free gift Jesus offers, we are offered light, abundance, and joy that never ends — we become children of the most high King!
Tim Keller said, “To really accept the gift that’s given, you have to admit you are a sinner, you need to be saved by grace, you need to give up control of your life, you need to give over everything to Jesus… Jesus Christ’s greatness is seen in how far down He came to love us, and your greatness will be achieved by going on the same path.”
The light of Jesus is available to us. He offers us the best life now and forever. He is the clarifying solution to everything we face.
We tend to de-spiritualize the problems and opportunities that we face at work. Yet, every situation we face is brought into light with Jesus. Every person we encounter is a soul that lasts forever; therefore, we need their creator to shine light in and through us to love them.
Jesus is the ultimate illuminating solution for our life and the work.
Light Is Meant to Be Shared
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.” – [.no-reftag]Matthew 5:14[.no-reftag]
Jesus, our greatest gift, is meant to share with others — providing them light and creating even more light. Every illuminating truth above is in plural. Those that have received the gift of life, know that Christ now lives in them (Colossians 1:27).
No gift is truly a gift unless it is shared with others; so as children of the King, we follow the commands of the King — going and making disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20), loving others, and shining light the way Jesus has done for us.
Resources:
Article: "Receive The Gift - The Distinctively Preeminent Jesus"
Video: "Fully Receive The Greatest Gift - Preeminent Jesus | Howard Graham"
“I can’t see. I am confused. I don’t know where to go. I don’t have any idea what to do next. I feel all alone. I don’t know how to fix it. I am not sure what to do next. I am in such a fog, it’s like I am blind.”
We have all said these things to ourselves and most of us have said them out loud to others. We all have a darkness problem.
Darkness = Confusion, Isolation, & Death
Our life can be difficult. Our work can be difficult. Solutions can seem far away, as if hidden in complete obscurity. We can have trouble getting on the same page with others. We can be clueless about what to do next. We can find ourselves in darkness.
The problem with darkness is that there is no light. We stub our toe at night because we don’t turn on the light. Yep, it’s that simple. And, worse, most of our darkness is self-inflicted. Our deepest confusion is most often driven by our own narrow perceptions and selfish ambitions.
We move into darkness when we want things that are not ours, not good for us, and not good for others. We place ourselves in darkness when we try to make something fulfill us that is not able to fulfill us.
An obsession with living and working our way leads to death.
Light = Clarity, Accessibility, & Life
We were made to live in the light.
Light provides clarity and allows us to see past our current circumstances. Light gives access to solutions that lead to life. Light allows us to see, simultaneously, what is best for others and ourselves. Light is the source of life.
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” – [.no-reftag]John 8:12[.no-reftag]
Jesus says He is the source of light and life. Jesus promises that those who follow Him will be able to see and live forever. This is a promise worth investigating because it leads to a life full of clarity, accessibility, and ultimately glory that lasts forever.
The World Started with Light
The first chapter in the Gospel of John contains some of the most unlocking truths in the entire Bible — providing key illuminations and practical help for our life and work.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” – [.no-reftag]John 1:1-4[.no-reftag]
Jesus was always with God. He is the Creator. Jesus is The Word that spoke everything, including light, into existence (Genesis 1:1-3). Jesus is the author of life and light.
Jesus was not created as a “Plan B” after humans failed. Since Jesus is the perfect source of life and love, we want to live and work according to the way we were created. We see with great clarity in this text that there is nothing in our life or work that is not ultimately about Jesus. We were created by Jesus (Colossians 1:16), given power through Jesus, and we should do everything for the glory of Jesus (Romans 11:36).
We Were Made for Light
“In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” – [.no-reftag]John 1:5-6[.no-reftag]
Jesus, the source of life and light, has provided light for all people — allowing everyone access to God (Colossians 1:19). And, better yet, there is no darkness that can overcome the solution Jesus provides (Colossians 2:13-15).
The light of Jesus drives out all darkness. “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” – [.no-reftag]John 1:5[.no-reftag]
The light of Jesus makes solutions appear accessible for the biggest and most simple obstacles we face. Light, which is synonymous with God’s word, provides a lamp for our feet and a light on our path (Psalm 119:105). The perfect truth and light of Jesus is relevant to every situation we face.
Light Can Be Rejected
“The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.” – [.no-reftag]John 1:9-11[.no-reftag]
Jesus, the perfectly pure light, was ignored and rejected, even as He walked the earth. We each are prone to get confused and go astray, each going our own way (Isaiah 53:6). Most of the very people who claimed to be waiting for the Savior actually despised Jesus, either desiring to kill Him or wanting nothing to do with Him. Knowing others rejected pure light is good for us to remember so we won’t become tricked into rejecting the clarity Jesus offers.
People often want the desires of their heart more than they want a perfect solution. Tim Keller said, “What is the source of evil in the world? It’s basically the self-centeredness of the human heart. The self-centeredness, everything is about me. Me first. That’s where the misery of the world comes from.”
This is a helpful reminder for each of us, when we are stuck in darkness, to turn to Jesus for answers. And, a reminder that when we have a solution based on the perfect light of Jesus, we may too be rejected.
Light Is a Gift to Receive
“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.” – [.no-reftag]John 1:9-13[.no-reftag]
Jesus is the perfect gift! Gifts must be received. When we receive the free gift Jesus offers, we are offered light, abundance, and joy that never ends — we become children of the most high King!
Tim Keller said, “To really accept the gift that’s given, you have to admit you are a sinner, you need to be saved by grace, you need to give up control of your life, you need to give over everything to Jesus… Jesus Christ’s greatness is seen in how far down He came to love us, and your greatness will be achieved by going on the same path.”
The light of Jesus is available to us. He offers us the best life now and forever. He is the clarifying solution to everything we face.
We tend to de-spiritualize the problems and opportunities that we face at work. Yet, every situation we face is brought into light with Jesus. Every person we encounter is a soul that lasts forever; therefore, we need their creator to shine light in and through us to love them.
Jesus is the ultimate illuminating solution for our life and the work.
Light Is Meant to Be Shared
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.” – [.no-reftag]Matthew 5:14[.no-reftag]
Jesus, our greatest gift, is meant to share with others — providing them light and creating even more light. Every illuminating truth above is in plural. Those that have received the gift of life, know that Christ now lives in them (Colossians 1:27).
No gift is truly a gift unless it is shared with others; so as children of the King, we follow the commands of the King — going and making disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20), loving others, and shining light the way Jesus has done for us.
Resources:
Article: "Receive The Gift - The Distinctively Preeminent Jesus"
Video: "Fully Receive The Greatest Gift - Preeminent Jesus | Howard Graham"