Day Twenty-Two
Scripture: John 3:14-21
14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 16 ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. 17 ‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgement, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. 20 For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. 21 But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.’
Observation:
“Those who do what is true come to the light”
On Tuesday evening, while I was walking outside, talking to my friend on the phone in Korea, I saw a coyote walking across the parking lot. I told my friend, “I just saw a coyote in the parking lot,” and he was startled, saying, “Dude, go hide!”
He had no idea that it was not my first time seeing a coyote in the parking lot. I was not afraid at all because I knew that the coyote would be much more afraid of me than I of it. At the moment I saw the coyote, the wild animal was already running away from me. All I had to do was stay in the light so the coyote could see I’m bigger and stronger than it. Thankfully, I’m not prey for a coyote.
Staying in the light is key. There were moments in my life when I wanted to hide in darkness. When I was deeply hurt by another human being, when I was ashamed of my failure, and when I was too scared of the outcome of what I had done wrong, I remember how much I wanted to hide in the darkness. Perhaps that’s our human nature and there’s nothing wrong with that.
However, now I know I can’t solve any problems by running into darkness; I will only get consumed by it. I have to come to the light and see. The only way to salvation is to stay in the light to see and to be seen.
Application:
When do you get tempted to go hide in the darkness?
What should you do to stay in the light?
Prayer / Reflection:
Song of Reflection: Light of the World