See the Light!

Fresh Manna© by Pastor Tim Burt
http://readfreshmanna.blogspot.com/

John 1:4-5 “In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it”

I have been writing Fresh Manna since the beginning of the year 2000. I am highly motivated to write because my heart wants to shout out to believers and unbelievers alike, “God is good,” “A life in God is full of His promises,” “The life in God is filled with miracles.” I have to confess. Sometimes I wonder if people get it. Sometimes I wonder if people really understand and comprehend how exciting it is to live a life of faith leaning upon and believing God for every promise in His Word. If you didn’t understand that, you wouldn’t begin to see a fraction of all God wants to do in your life and actually is doing. It’s your heart belief in His promises and leaning upon them that “opens the eyes of your understanding” so that you can see the Lord intimately working in and loving you in your life. Expectancy in God helps you see God in the details. That in turn, increases your faith and helps you to experience Him more.

The Apostle Paul knew this and lived this way. That is why we see him praying this for believers in Eph. 1:18. “I pray that the eyes of your understanding will be flooded with light so that you can understand the wonderful future He has promised to those He called. I want you to realize what a rich and glorious inheritance He has given to His people.” Paul prayed this prayer for those he had led to the Lord and for those he was helping to grow in the Lord. He knew how important it was for them to see and believe in God’s promises. He knew it was when they came to that place that they would “realize what a rich and glorious inheritance God has given to His people.”

You know that Jesus died for all mankind. You also know that not all of mankind will believe in Jesus or accept His gift of salvation and life of promise in this earth. When Jesus returns, all of creation – every man that has lived or is living and all His creation will acknowledge Him – even those who rejected Him. Phil 2:9-10 says, “Therefore God also has highly exalted Jesus and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth.” Even though Jesus had done all that He has out of love and as free gift to mankind, He is and will be rejected. If men can reject Jesus, then men can reject His light.

Every student of science and even those who are not know a simple truth; darkness in its darkest form cannot overtake light. Today’s Fresh Manna verse says, “In Jesus was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” What this is saying is that where Jesus is, His light is. People may not be able to comprehend or understand it, but they cannot extinguish it. Light always has the power to overtake darkness.

What does that mean to you and I? Do you ever have “dark” times? Are you ever confused? Are you wondering what to do? Do you find yourself needing direction? If you can’t find it, it means that you do not comprehend something that is there available to you. Jesus is there for you but the light you need to show you the way is not seen by you. That is why the Apostle Paul prayed that “the eyes of their understanding – of their heart, would be enlightened.”

If circumstances against you seem and speak louder to you than the promises and love of God toward you, that the unnatural happens – darkness blinds the light available in your heart. That is not natural. Light overpower darkness. Darkness does not and cannot overpower light. Light just becomes denied and then the words, “The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it” become true to that person.

When the world around us or the circumstances around us seem dark, there is always light available to the believer. How do we get that light in our life? First, like Paul, we pray for the eyes of our understanding and heart to be enlightened. Secondly, repent. Repent of being backslidden from God. Repent of being causal toward sin. Repent of your unbelief in God’s light and power to help you. As Acts 3:19 says, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” Thirdly, draw near to God and PROCLAIM His promises over you life! Psalm 73:28 says, “But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works.”

If you love Jesus, light is available to you today. Remember how good a candle or flashlight feels in the darkness. Draw near to Jesus and spend time in His promises that are your hope today. Have expectancy that the Holy Spirit will speak to and lead you into life and promise. He will! Psalm 112:4 “Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.”

In His Love,
Pastor Tim Burt