“Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard.8 Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.” 1 John 2.7-8
In John 8.12 Jesus said, “John 8:12, Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Sometimes, with so much difficulty around us, it is easy to focus on the dark. We read in the news that someone killed Jewish young adults in Washington, D.C., or that the war in Ukraine continues taking thousands of lives senselessly. We hear about people struggling with anxiety and depression, sometimes giving up altogether. With all this darkness, it is often difficult to focus on the light.
But like a moth to a flame, the irresistible urge to fly toward the light should guide us—not for destruction, but for delight. The command that John gives us is not new, he writes, but old. Yet the “new command” is this: its truth is seen in Him (Jesus) and in you, because the darkness is passing, and the true light is already shining.
The light is shining, and it comes through the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” Just as John Wesley said, “The world is my parish,” so that light is available to all. For those of us who have seen the light, we share it with others. For those who have not yet received it, they are given a chance to see and live in the light.
Come to the light this day. Find light in Jesus. If you are living in darkness, seek help from the One who can save you. For those who are struggling, battling, fearful, or sad, Christ will be your light. This world is temporary, but our eternal hope is in heaven. Find yourself drawn to the light of Christ and let His light shine through you.
“O Lord God, You are faithful. When I am down, You lift me up. When I am full of doubt, You bring me faith. Come now, Holy Spirit, and fill me with Your love. Allow the light of Christ to shine on me so I might be a reflection of Your glory. For You are good, and Your love endures forever.” Amen