"For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light. O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart." — Psalm 36:9-10
We continue today our meditation on this text from which last week we focused on "Life," connecting this verse with John's reference to Christ, "In Him was life [John 1:4]," noting that Christ is not only the source of life, but that He is life. He is the very essence of life, so that those who are outside of Christ are devoid of life in the true and proper sense.
The second emphasis in our text which is enlarged upon and developed in the new Testament is "Light." This, too, is a property identified with Christ. John said, "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. "The Savior said, "… I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life [John 8:12]." As with life, so with light; those who are not identified with Christ are enveloped in darkness. It is my judgment that "light" as used in this way alludes to mental and moral perception of "true Truth.". This light comes first and foremost through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ: "I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness [John 12:46];" and then through the avenue of His word: "The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. [Ps. 119:130]," and "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts [II Pet. 1:19]."
Men are inclined to rely on "reason," the natural resources of the mind of man, ignorant of the fact that reason without revelation will only result in mental and moral confusion and eventuate in chaos. So emphatically is this true that scripture declares, "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them [Isa. 8:20]." The human mind acquires knowledge, and in the process is impressed with its own achievement, but apart from God is devoid of true wisdom.
It was to bring men to Light that Christ came into the world. He said to Paul, on the occasion of his conversion, "… I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me [Acts 26:18]." Men resist the gospel in their ignorance and rebellion against God "For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved [John 3:20]." And those who do so—the vast majority of mankind—stand condemned before God "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil [John 3:19]."
This is the reason why, for all the achievements of man in society, politics and technology, there is no peace in this world. By reason of our fallen nature we lack what it takes to bring order out of chaos, namely, "light." This explains why there is no hope in human government. Without the Light from above, men grope as blind and will never see the way out.
The believer stands in contrast to the unregenerate. "For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil [Eph. 5:8-16, my italics]."
Light stands in contrast to darkness; may we be found walking in His light in this present evil world!
For God's glory and our good,
"Pastor" Frasier
We continue today our meditation on this text from which last week we focused on "Life," connecting this verse with John's reference to Christ, "In Him was life [John 1:4]," noting that Christ is not only the source of life, but that He is life. He is the very essence of life, so that those who are outside of Christ are devoid of life in the true and proper sense.
The second emphasis in our text which is enlarged upon and developed in the new Testament is "Light." This, too, is a property identified with Christ. John said, "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. "The Savior said, "… I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life [John 8:12]." As with life, so with light; those who are not identified with Christ are enveloped in darkness. It is my judgment that "light" as used in this way alludes to mental and moral perception of "true Truth.". This light comes first and foremost through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ: "I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness [John 12:46];" and then through the avenue of His word: "The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. [Ps. 119:130]," and "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts [II Pet. 1:19]."
Men are inclined to rely on "reason," the natural resources of the mind of man, ignorant of the fact that reason without revelation will only result in mental and moral confusion and eventuate in chaos. So emphatically is this true that scripture declares, "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them [Isa. 8:20]." The human mind acquires knowledge, and in the process is impressed with its own achievement, but apart from God is devoid of true wisdom.
It was to bring men to Light that Christ came into the world. He said to Paul, on the occasion of his conversion, "… I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me [Acts 26:18]." Men resist the gospel in their ignorance and rebellion against God "For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved [John 3:20]." And those who do so—the vast majority of mankind—stand condemned before God "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil [John 3:19]."
This is the reason why, for all the achievements of man in society, politics and technology, there is no peace in this world. By reason of our fallen nature we lack what it takes to bring order out of chaos, namely, "light." This explains why there is no hope in human government. Without the Light from above, men grope as blind and will never see the way out.
The believer stands in contrast to the unregenerate. "For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil [Eph. 5:8-16, my italics]."
Light stands in contrast to darkness; may we be found walking in His light in this present evil world!
For God's glory and our good,
"Pastor" Frasier
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