Light of the World

I love the song that goes:
Jesus is the answer for the world today, above him there’s no other, Jesus is the way.

We live in a time where sound doctrine is despised and people are searching for "easier" ways; a way that does not require faith in Jesus Christ.

Perhaps you've seen or heard about the "Church of Oprah" where she basically says that we are all a part of God and our salvation comes from ourselves. It requires no belief, no faith in anyone other than yourself. I was talking about this in church last night and it is basically a step back into the belief of salvation by works.

I am reminded of a scene in the movie Ghandi. In this movie the Hindus and the Muslims are at war and at one point a man comes to Ghandi and says, “I am going to hell!” Ghandi asks him, “Why do you think you are going to go to hell?” Then the man falls down before him and says, “I killed a Muslim child.” Ghandi replies, “I know a way out of hell. Find a little child whose parents have been killed and raise him as your own son, only be sure he grows up a Muslim.”

OK... it may sound like a good and clever plan, but I can assure you, it is not the way out of hell as Ghandi suggested. Jesus has given us the only way out of hell. He said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father, but by me.”

People don't like that, want to reject this fact, but Jesus offered proof of his plan by dying on the cross and carrying all our sin with him and three days later rising victorious over sin and the grave.
Jesus knows the way out of hell.
He’s the only one who does.
He is the light who has come to shine in our darkness.

When God began creation the Bible says, “The earth was without form and void and darkness was upon the face of the deep.” But God spoke and the first recorded command of God was given: “Let there be light, and there was light.”

The Word of God, the light of the world, chases away the darkness. God introduces light and life and order and beauty into the darkness and formless chaos.
Wherever God’s presence comes, light and life come too.
Wherever God withdraws his presence, darkness, death and destruction follow.
God has a way out of hell, a way out of darkness into eternal light.

The very essence of hell is the absence of God’s presence. Listen to 2 Thess. 1:7 the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, 8 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 And these will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed- this includes you- for our testimony to you was believed.

Those who reject the light (Jesus) shall go into the utter outer darkness, shut out from God’s presence; those who know God and follow the light will enjoy eternal life, and marvel at His glory and praise Him in His presence forever.
Light or darkness, these describe the ultimate destiny of every man, woman and child. Jesus is the only way out of darkness. He is the light we need.

Listen to Jesus words about himself: John 8:12 Again therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life."

John 9:5 "While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

In fact John introduces Jesus to us at the beginning of his gospel with similar words. John 1:4 says, "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men."

In verse 9 of that chapter he says, "There was the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man."

Aren’t you glad you know where the light is?
Aren’t you thankful that God hasn’t left us all here in the darkness of sin? God’s word is a light for our path, and Jesus, God’s Son is the light of God’s presence.

Don't believe that? Don't want to accept it?
Whether anyone accepts this or not doesn’t change the truth.
Jesus is the light of the world.
God is calling you and me to come to that light and to walk in his light.

Listen to God’s Word:
John 3: 19 "And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil.
20 For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
21 But he who practices the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God."

I believe we are living in the last days before Jesus comes to take his church away. Millions are being deceived by the likes of Oprah and other religions which tell them they are in charge of their own destiny, they don't need the Word of God, they don't need Jesus Christ... it is all up to themselves. That makes people feel good because they are not admitting their sinfulness or weakness. They are not dependent upon another. I appeases the arrogance and pride that rests inside of mankind.
But again I will say, that Jesus Christ is the only way. That is the truth.
And just because someone does not accept that as truth does not change the fact that it is truth.

A man or a woman is free to choose their own way, but they must also deal with the consequence of their choice. It may make them feel good right now, even feel a sense of power because they are in control of our own salvation. And according to Oprah, there is no hell, and heaven is nothing more than a state of mind.

But can I tell you... Heaven is real... and so is Hell; and men and women do go there. The choice belongs to each of us. Believe on Jesus Christ as the one and only means of salvation and surrender our lives and will to him... or go our own way, which leads to the path of darkness and Hell.
Which way will you choose?