35 Then Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. 36 Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light." When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
Jesus is the Light of the world - those who follow Him will never walk in darkness. Light in Scripture is always symbolic of God and His holiness. Contrast this to the world which abides or walks in darkness – symbolizing evil, ignorance and sin. Jesus came to shine a light on this darkness – to open our eyes to it. Light always dispels darkness. In an expression of pity and compassion, Jesus came to alleviate our misery and suffering caused by our own choice of sin. In His divine favor and mercy, grace was demonstrated in the removal of misery and peace was granted in its place for those who would believe. Believers who once were doomed to destruction are now given hope – once dwelling in the shadow of death, in Christ, our feet are now on the path of peace. The prophet Isaiah prophesizes the following regarding Christ:
2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. Isaiah 9:2 (NIV)
Indeed, Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist – the forerunner of Christ- prophesized the following regarding both his son and the Son:
76 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, 77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven 79 to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace." Luke 1:76-79 (NIV)
Earlier in John we find the following words from our Lord:
12 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. " John 8:12 (NIV)
In our verses for today, Jesus stresses the duty of using our present opportunities – we are given the light but for a little while – we must walk in the light while we have it. Our time on this earth is both short and limited. The throne of grace will one day be displaced by the throne of judgment. Scripture states the door of salvation through faith in Christ will not always be open neither will the time for doing good remain. The fountain that cleanses sin will not always be accessible – the way to it will one day be barred and there will remain nothing but the lake of fire. Our day of opportunity is now at hand.
“Many of us are not thirsty for God because we have quenched our thirst at other fountains.” Erwin Lutzer
These are solemn thoughts yet true – causing us to search our own hearts – arousing us from our own drowsiness and lethargy to walk zealously in a manner worthy of the Light. Shunning and wasting our time in idleness, carelessness, selfishness and indifference, we are rather to walk while we have the Light. How we live our lives matters greatly both presently and for eternity. We make our choices and then our choices make us.
“If you keep in step with God, be out of step with the world.” Anonymous
We must make good use of our limited time – things do not remain the same. And old saint from the past once stated that the recollection of lost and misspent opportunities will be the very essence of hell. Scripture tell us:
7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Gal 6:7-10 (NIV)
It is Jesus’ desire for all to be sons of Light yet sadly many do not choose this path. Jesus tells us in the Sermon on the Mount that many will follow the path of destruction – while few the path of Life:
13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matt 7:13-14 (NIV)
“The conviction of the Holy Spirit is always precise: He identifies root causes of sin, and He moves the heart to specific acts of repentance and obedience. All those who trust God sufficiently to desire to obey Him, and who are patient in waiting upon Him, will find unfailingly that HE gives clear guidance. ‘In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths’, promises Proverbs 3:6. For those who love God everything is aboveboard. To know Him is to know what He requires and more than that, it is to have the power to carry it out. In fact these two—enlightenment and empowering—go hand in hand, and where they do not, then the Lord is not in it.” Mike Mason