Receive the Light

Last time we discussed the importance of recognizing the true light of the world. Not only do we need to recognize the light, but we need to go on to Receive the Light. This is what we will focus on today. We must receive the light. Jesus said in John 12:46 "I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness." What does it mean to believe? We take belief much too lightly. To believe means that you must believe in the virgin birth. You believe in the sinless life. You believe in the sacrificial death. You believe in the bodily resurrection. You believe in the victorious return. You believe, not just enough to be a "Christian" but to be a Christ follower. You believe enough to lay down your pursuits…your life for the cause of Christ. That type of belief results in repentant faith. What is a repentant faith? It is a faith that repents. It is a repentance that generates faith. You cannot have one without the other; they are like opposite sides of the same coin.

Repentance is to turn away from sin. Jesus said in Luke 13:3 that except we repent, we will all likewise perish. You can go through the motions, but without repentance you are lost. Repentance is turning. The Apostle Paul calls it putting off the old man in Ephesians 4:22. "Put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt." Faith is a complete trust, belief, and reliance upon Christ for salvation. Ephesians 2:8 says, "It is by grace, through faith and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God." It is through faith in Christ alone that we are saved. That may sound elementary, but most people trust in anything and everything but Jesus Christ. There are a lot who trust in a sinner's prayer. There are a lot who trust in a baptism or church membership. There are a lot who trust in good deeds, but that is insufficient. There must be faith and trust in Jesus alone, because it is not due to what we have done, but what He has done. We must trust Jesus enough that we are willing to say to him, "Jesus I trust you with me…with my heart, soul, mind, and life! I trust you and I am yours EVEN IF YOU WOULD CHOOSE TO SEND ME TO HELL! I trust you. That is trust!

A repentant faith results in a transformation. We are not saved by works, but if we are saved there will be evident works. James 2:17 says, "faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." James 2:26 states, "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." John Calvin put it this way, "We are justified by faith alone, but a faith that justifies is never alone." We have every reason to be concerned over people’s souls who go through the motions, but never show a change of direction. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."

We must receive the light, but we must also continue receiving light and more light. This is not just a one time decision. It is a lifetime walk. It is daily repentance and faith. It is a continuous seeking after more and more of the light, after the truth, and after more of God. If we use what God gives it will increase. If we do not, we will lose even what we think we have. To turn a deaf ear to God's Word results in spiritual deafness. It results in us hearing, but not understanding. This is very very dangerous. We see the danger of dull hearing in Romans 1:18-32. If we ignore the revelation that God has provided for us through His creation, His Word, and His messenger, the result will not only be spiritual blindness and dullness, but death. We should be very careful to intentionally receive the light for it is dangerous to passively approach His Word. When we passively approach God's revelation it results in Distracted Thinking (Romans 1:21a). When our thinking becomes distracted, then we suffer from darkened Hearts (Romans 1:21b-23). When our hearts are darkened, the next downward step is to Dishonored Bodies (Romans 1:24-27). Then we receive debased minds (Romans 1:28-31). Finally, the end result is death (Romans 1:32).

Passively approaching the Word of God is dangerous, because everytime you encounter His revelation your heart is getting softer and more sensitive or harder and less sensitive. Everytime you encounter His Word your ears are getting more deaf or more keen. Every time you encounter His message, your sight is getting duller or clearer. You will not remain the same. That is why Jesus stated very clearly in Mark 4:24-25 "Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away." Be sure that you receive the light and keep receiving the light!