SCRIPTURE
"All those who do evil hate the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. Those who live by the truth come into the light so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God." (John 3:20-21)
OBSERVATION
Jesus is the light that has come into the world (3:19). Light is the penetrating, exposing, life-giving nature of God. It sees the human heart and all that is contained therein. Here, Jesus describes two kinds of people, those who do evil and those who live by the truth. He then describes the two responses. One is fear. Those who do evil don't want to be exposed. The other is truthful living. They come into the light because they have nothing to hide.
Why would someone be afraid of the light? Verse 19 gives the answer. "People loved darkness instead of the light because their deeds were evil." It's about the deeds. There is something seductive and mysterious about darkness. We think no one, including God sees or knows what we do. But there is also no life in the dark. Jesus does not want nocturnal believers...people who say they follow, but because of their evil deeds cling to the darkness out of fear. In order to thrive, a plant needs exposure to the sun. So do we.
APPLICATION
I've got two choices in life...evil deeds or truthful living. I much prefer the second. There is no hiding or fear of exposure. When I struggle with evil, the worst thing I can do is hide out, clinging to the darkness. It will be a slow spiritual death. A wilting of my soul. I've got to overcome that fear with faith. Letting the light of Christ shine into the darkest parts of my heart. What I will find, and have found, is that there is freedom and life. I'm to be a diurnal disciple. A follower of Jesus who lives in the light, belonging to the day, overcoming the fear of exposure by authentic confession and repentance. Once in the light, my spiritual life will blossom.
PRAYER
Lord, I thank you that you are the Father of whom I do not need to be afraid to come into your presence. You are faithful to forgive as I confess. When I find myself tempted to hide out in the dark, I need your Spirit to help me walk into the light and find freedom from the fear through the exposure to your Son.
