Jesus Christ the Light of the world

Believers, have you ever tried going about your business outside in the bright morning sun with a candle to help you see straight; even on a cloudy day when we know the sun is still shining but we can't see it because of the clouds? If the winds, floods and rains don't put out the unstable flame, you'll end up spending your time trying to keep the candle lit, unable to concentrate or enjoy the beauty around you, bumping into everything and everyone, stumbling often and falling, even falling headlong and breaking your head!

But this is what many of us do: shun the gift of righteousness that God freely gives to us in our Saviour Jesus Christ, the Bright and Morning Star, and hold up our efforts at keeping the Ten Commandments and good works - our own righteousnesses that are like "menstrual rags" according to Isaiah 64:6- as the light to guide us. See our Abba Father's counsel to us regarding His Servant, Jesus Christ the Light of the world in whom believers have perfect righteousness, in Isaiah 50:10-11:

10 “Who among you fears the Lord?

Who obeys the voice of His Servant?

Who walks in darkness

And has no light?

Let him trust in the name of the Lord

And rely upon his God.

11 Look, all you who kindle a fire,

Who encircle yourselves with sparks:

Walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks you have kindled—

This you shall have from My hand:

You shall lie down in torment."

This light in verse 10 is a picture of perfect righteousness which no human being has, "as it is written, "There is none righteous, not even one."" Romans 3:10. The one that "walks in darkness and has no light" aka the sinner is saved by trusting in the Lord and relying on Him- calling upon the name of the Lord and having Him as his Light (righteousness.) The voice of God's Servant (Jesus Christ) that we obey does not speak " obey the law, or else" but speaks Grace- undeserved, unearned, unmerited favour.

I always thought verse 11 meant wicked people who "kindle a fire" are those who come against God's people but this is not always so. Verse 11 refers to those who feel that it is their ability to keep the law and do "righteous things" like pay tithes religiously and go without make-up that gets them saved! Their own righteousness emanates from their good works and law-keeping. You know it is your own righteousness when you can boast about how it is what you did that got God to bless you and not what Christ has done.

Such use their law-keeping as the light to their path forgetting John 8:12- "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.”"

Like sheep that have their own torchlights, many depend on their own righteousnesses which are from keeping the Ten Commandments to help them see straight and guide them on the right path but still say "The Lord is my Shepherd!" In doing this, many are cut off from Christ! Galatians 5:4 says-

"For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace."

Calling on the name of Jesus for forgiveness here is an effort in futility because Christ becomes of no effect to you when you mix law and grace. The candles (righteousness from works of the law) that such hold up while they profess to be under the Sun of Righteousness get hit by the winds and rains so it's either they're trying to put it on or it just went out; trying to stop sinning or falling into sin!

1 Corinthians 15:56 says "...the strength of sin is the law." The more people try to keep the law to gain right-standing with God (aka focusing on keeping their failed candles lit in order to see when the Sun is always shining brightly,) the stronger the grip of sin in their lives will be (more stumbling, falling and the candle going off when the storms of life arise)

Because our Saviour Jesus Christ -the Light of the world, the Sun of Righteousness, the Bright and Morning Star is no longer of effect in their lives, they grope in darkness in broad daylight as it is written in isaiah 59:8-

"We grope for the wall like the blind,

And we grope as if we had no eyes;

We stumble at noonday as at twilight;

We are as dead men in desolate places."

Believers, we are not under Law but under Grace! The Sun of Righteousness shines His Light on all who believe and receive His gift of Righteousness; all who forsake theirs which comes from keeping the Law. Christ says to us: "Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

At the cross, God performed righteous exchange, "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Corinthians 5:21.

God didn't just sweep our entire lifetime of sins under the carpet. They were punished in the body of our Lord Jesus. He put all of our sins on Jesus so that we can have all of His righteousness. God is a just God and will never condemn or punish you for the same sins that Christ has already been condemned and punished for. God is righteous in making the sinner righteous! Trying to keep the Law in order to "maintain your salvation" is telling Him that what our Lord Jesus did for you on the cross is not enough!

But His gift of everlasting righteousness is not a license to sin! It is the key to right living. God hates sin but loves the sinner, much like (but faaaar better than) how a dad who is also an expert oncologist hates the cancer in his beloved child. So what does He do? He fills us with the only effective sin "chemo" that He made available to believers in Christ - the Holy Spirit. His eyes burn at and destroy sin but radiate perfect love for the sinner (This is how our God is a consuming fire in Hebrews 12, not angry and judgmental at us but cleaning house and torching all that needs to burn for our benefit.) His Spirit transforms us to the image of His glory, from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18.) We get to be free from the clutches of sin and live right and not by our efforts but Christ in us!

Believers, ask our heavenly Father in Christ to help you depend solely on His gift of righteousness and not yours from deeds of the Law that can never make you righteous in God's sight. Why be cut off from Christ by your efforts at law-keeping in order to get right with God?

Build your house on the Rock (the Righteousness of God) and not on the sand (your candle in the sun aka efforts at keeping the Law.) When the rains, floods and winds come, your Light (our Saviour Jesus Christ Himself) will still be shining, even when it's cloudy!

Believe Right and you will Live Right!