"Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Believers, check out 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 above 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 you will be punished." He speaks GRACE- undeserved, unearned, unmerited favour. He does not condemn. He saves, as it is written in John 3:17-

"For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him." 

Now check out verse Isaiah 50:11-

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.

I always thought that the wicked people who "kindle a fire" here are those who come against God's people. My mind always went to those "Africa Magic" scenes with evil people chanting incantations around bonfires:) But this is not always so. Little did I know that the verse was talking to me back then- verse 11 refers to those who feel that it is their ability to keep the law and do "righteous things" that gets them saved! Their own light (righteousness) emanates from their good works and law-keeping. Such have something to boast about, but not Christ. There is no Jesus Christ "The Lord our Righteousness" saving from anything in the equation.

You know you are relying on 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 e.g. when we say "God blessed me financially and I am rich because I had the good sense to pay my tithes without fail." This is to boast in the flesh (human effort) and to reject 2 Corinthians 8:9- "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich."

Also Romans 8:32 - "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" Our Abba Father in Christ gives us ALL things FREELY and not because we fasted or paid tithes in order to get right with Him. Wonderful as these things are, they cannot save anybody. Only the righteousness that Christ died that we might have suffices. In Him, we GET TO live right and enjoy God's favour.

Believers in Christ, let's not follow those who teach law-keeping as the light to our 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.”" Follow Grace and Truth (Christ) for the letter kills.

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 of the many secret sins here is an effort in futility because Christ becomes of no effect to you when you mix law and grace. And sin increases where people are trying to keep the law "For sin shall not have dominion over you for you are not under Law but under Grace." Under law, sin reigns, but many have this backwards. Believers, let's not be found here.

The candles (righteousness from works of the law) that such hold up while they profess to be in Jesus Christ, the Sun of Righteousness without having Him as their 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! Our Lord Jesus Christ 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 all who walk in darkness and have no light (sinners):

"Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”