Devotional

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God. -John 3:16-20

Imagine stepping into an average teenager’s bedroom, and the light is of,f and it’s dark. For all you know, it’s as clean as a Pottery Barn advertisement, “Nothing to see here!” But then you flick on the light. Now what do you see? A floor covered in t-shirts, underwear, and socks? A half-eaten bag of Doritos on the nightstand? Empty cans of energy drinks? Spitwads stuck to the wall? Same room, but light revealed the mess. That’s what light does. In fact, many appreciate darkness because it hides the mess. How many violent crimes happen under the cover of night? Light reveals.

His coming is an indictment of our wickedness...

“The light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil” (John 3:19). Christ is the light that came into the darkness. He is the truth conquering lies. He is perfect moral righteousness, exposing sin. He is the true life-revealing spiritual deadness. He is light because he himself is the source of truth, goodness, and life. His coming is an indictment of our wickedness–and that’s why the world loves darkness and hates the light. This is where the conflict lies.

As the light of Christ exposes sin, it also reveals the glorious light of salvation!

But John tells us “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him” (John 3:17). As the light of Christ exposes sin, it also reveals the glorious light of salvation! Christ exposes our mess in order to clean it up, because, in order to be saved, sins must be exposed.

To behold Christ as the light is to have our sins exposed before the terrifying holiness of God, while simultaneously trusting in Christ’s death upon the cross to pay for our sins. There is no salvation without exposure. To behold Christ as the light is to say, “Yes, I truly am a sinner. The cross reveals the evil of my sins, and it reveals that my sins were paid for in full.” To seek cover in darkness is to refuse the cover of the blood of Christ. 

We are to behold the light of Christ and walk in it.

This is the beginning and end of the Christian life. We are to behold the light of Christ and walk in it. How do we do that? Practically, this means looking to God’s Word to expose your sins so you can confess them and be forgiven. It means seeking the lamp of God’s Word for correction and obeying what it says, rather than hiding from what it says. It means your relationships will be truthful and shining with the grace of Christ (1 John 1:5-9). It means turning away from darkness, abandoning secret sins, and refusing to make excuses. It means desiring the light of Christ to shine in every nook and cranny of your life so you can walk in his righteousness, revealing your “works have been carried out in God” (John 3:21). It means rejoicing that “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5).

Liturgy

God of Light,

We confess that we have often
turned to darkness to cover our evil deeds.
And hide our sins rather than be exposed as sinners.

Remind us daily that our only hope
is the glorious light of Christ.
Shine upon us, expose our secret sins,
reveal what is hidden in our hearts,
illuminate our darkened minds
and every aspect of our life with your Word.

Give us hearts that behold the light of Christ
and that love the light of the cross
where our sins were exposed
so we could be forgiven, cleansed, and redeemed.
May we rejoice in Christ
and abandon darkness to walk in his light.

May your Word be a lamp unto our feet
so we would walk in Christlikeness
and glorify you by becoming people of the light
who praise your excellencies and expose darkness
in ourselves and in the world around us.

Amen