I Am the Light of the World.

I Am the Light of the World

Jesus said: I am the light of the world. He that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

John 8: 12

Have you ever gone to stay with friends or gone off to a hotel for a holiday break and found yourself in the middle of the night fumbling about in the dark, simply because you did not know the geography of the room? You were in unfamiliar territory.

Here is a very simple little exercise about just such a situation. You have checked into a hotel and been shown to your room. You have had a long and tiring journey to get there so you freshen up and put your clothes in the wardrobe and drawers.  You are looking forward to an evening meal but there is time for a stroll along the town to familiarise yourself to some extent.

You enjoy the stroll it seems like a lovely spot to spend some time. You are once again feeling that it is going to be nice to have a cooked meal that you did not have to cook and served up to you with no clearing up at the end of it. You feel very relaxed. You turn and begin the journey back to the hotel just as the light begins to dim and the street lighting comes on.

As you arrive back at your hotel it is almost dark. You have your meal and collect your key from the desk and head up to your room.

You are feeling tired after the long day of travel and you are ready to relax. 

You open the door to your room. Where is that light switch? Not where you thought or had expected it to be.  You enter the room in the dark remembering you had noticed a bedside light.  What was that you just banged against your leg? You cannot remember the layout of the room. A few more unexpected bumps and knocks and you eventually find the bedside light and manage to switch it on.

The room burst into view with the light from the lamp, everything takes on a new perspective, a new sense of order.

Jesus says, "I am the light of the world."

Without light, we flounder about in the dark trying to find order and meaning in all things and our lives. Often we think we have found the answers only later to be disillusioned.  We go it alone and life throws us many bumps, knocks and hardships.

We seek meaning and purpose but seldom find what we seek.

To find something that helps us, to put our trust and faith in something or someone is like putting on a light. The road ahead looks a lot less frightening. That problem for which there seemed no answer suddenly does not appear so bad.

Where are the dark corners of our lives?  We all have them and we all need some help to cast some light upon them. The frightening corners where we need someone to light the way ahead and remove the fear.

Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. he that follows me will not walk in darkness."