Light of the World

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."
John 8:12

On the first day of creation, God (Elohim) said "'Let there be light'; and there was light” (Genesis 1:3). Before God invented it, light didn't exist. After He made it, God's bright creation was obvious to anyone with eyes. Actually, He also had to create eyes and the brain software that converts light into images, so that others could enjoy what He made.

When Christ came into the world, God began a whole new act of creation. The Savior offered a wonderful, new upgrade for the human race to change people into sons and daughters of God. The best part of it was that it cost them nothing at all. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

The difference between the new and old person is as clear as night and day (or light and darkness). However, not everyone can see the difference because eyes of faith are necessary to see it. To transformed people, Jesus is the Light of the World. Those who are unchanged are blind as bats. They actually see enough to know they want to get away from His presence.

Most creatures of the night try to flee or hide from light. Cockroaches, mice, and sinners don't want to be seen. Actually, the first two run away because they don't want to be eaten by another animal. The last group are ashamed of thier deeds.

Jesus not only reveals what people do at their darkest moments, He shows them who they are. The majority of sinners don't want to see that they have fallen short of the glory of God, so they close their eyes to the light. But as many as receive Him become sons and daughters of light, because He is the Light of the World.