From Darkness Into Glorious Light | May 2022 Monthly Newsletter
Written by Ps. Nicholas Hung | Senior Pastor of Antioch Gospel Church
“But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God's instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.” (1 Peter 2:9-10 MSG)
You are chosen – called out of darkness into His marvellous light! Amen! And God’s calling in our life makes a night-and-day difference. A fundamental reality of the gospel message is that Jesus is bringing us from darkness into light. Beginning with His wonderful sacrifice on the cross, Jesus has made a way for all to live in God’s glorious light and has freed us from living in utter darkness.
The following are three beautiful realities of the message, “From darkness into light”:
1. Jesus is constantly calling us into His light
Every Christian, including you and I, is chosen and called by God to serve Him in some capacity. He has made us to be kings and priests in Him. But fulfilling our God-given role isn’t automatic. We must discovering what it means to live in Him and for Him by continually positioning ourselves closer to Jesus.
“Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, ‘I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.’” (John 8:12 NLT)
When we follow darkness we end up enshrouded in darkness. In stark contrast, when we move towards light we gain a greater ability to see and perceive our surroundings. Jesus is the light and just as our eyes are drawn towards a shining full moon in the pitch black darkness of the night, Jesus is our beacon, beckoning us closer to Himself.
He’s not forcing us to follow Him – it’s an invitation – but it’s only when we follow Jesus, serving His purposes instead of our own, that we find the light. Every decision we make to follow Jesus and draw closer to Him is always the wise and sensible decision. Period. Only Jesus can lead us into the kind of light that leads to life – and that’s exactly where we need to be!
2. Jesus is calling us into His holiness
While darkness and the world holds its subjects captive in the grip of sin and shame and all the curses that come with it, God’s bright shining grace makes a way for us live within the blessings of holiness. God’s light shines on the shadows in our hearts and exposes our wrong, but instead of condemning us for our wrongdoing He leads us on a beautiful journey of transformation.
Stripping off old habits and sinful ways can only be good for us and it’s through faith in God alone and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit that we are transformed into the holy people that God wants us to be. Our connection with Jesus enables us to leave our sinful nature behind. We cannot do it alone but Jesus makes us overcomers and victorious in every arena of our lives.
Holiness cannot be earned – it’s the free gift of God and we discover this reality by walking in the light of God’s word, love and presence.
3. God’s light leads us along the right pathways – and it leads to a night and day difference in our lives
God’s word was given, “… to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.” (Acts 26:18 NKJV)
The word of God is a lamp to open our eyes, guide our feet and light our paths and that’s one reason why a consistent daily relationship with God’s word is an essential part of our journey from darkness to light.
It may not be practical or possible for every believer to put aside time for an extended Bible study every day of the week, but we must learn to engage with the words of the Bible in some capacity every day. Whether in the meditations of our heart; by memorising a verse or two; by praying scriptures out-aloud; through worshipping along to Christian songs; in conversation with others; by reading a Christian book or other, if we’re going to be moving from darkness into light, then we must seek the light.
A connection with God’s words is truly transformational in the heart of mankind. The deepest sinners can become saints! Saul, who later became Paul turned from being a murderer of Christians to being a preacher of the gospel. Gideon the fearful farmer from the weakest clan became powerful agent of faith because of God’s word. God’s word made the sick become whole and the dead come back to life. Women’s wombs were turned from barrenness to fruitfulness through the word. There’s really nothing in our lives that our God cannot change, as long as we allow Him and His word the centre place in our hearts and lives and allow Him to continue taking us from darkness into His glorious light!
Church, seek His light. Grow closer to Him. He’s calling you into a life with Him that’s higher and greater than anything the world can offer.
Blessings,
Pastor Nicholas Hung