As a lover of the written word, I particularly enjoy reading (and sometimes writing) a specific style of content. Something poetic, somewhat simple, filled with easter eggs and many small details that you will keep uncovering deeper mysteries as you read and re-read the content…and there is one passage of scripture that has always captured my attention because it encompasses this precise style…
John 1:5
The light shines on in the darkness, and the darkness has not understood it.
Let us unpack that verse logically. Is there anything that you can fail to understand about light? Well, not necessarily…I mean, if there is light shining somewhere, we merely need to know the source and then everything makes sense.
But as I meditated abit deeper on this verse recently, I asked myself a question, is it possible for there to exist a situation whereby light is so unexpected, so impossible to imagine, that a light shining would be…perplexing?
Let us examine our lives. Indeed, it is normal to be kind to our friends, I mean, they are equally kind to us. But when someone is kind to an enemy…it is a perplexing light…
It is normal for us to be overjoyed when God answers a prayer in the way we desired. I mean, it is an expected cause for celebration. But when someone’s faith is stronger and their praise is louder even when the prayer was not answered…it is a perplexing light…
It is expected for us to celebrate during a wedding. I mean, this is a huge occasion of joy. But for one to have their head high, eyes dry and mourning with hope in a funeral admist the grief…it is a perplexing light…
The darkness has not understood it…
I have recently been musing at how on many occasions in the Bible, when God desires to distinguish Himself (especially among other gods), He chooses to do it in a dramatic and perplexing way…
Let us recall the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal, the story is so good that I do not want to paraphrazing it…so let us read together:
1 Kings 18:21-39
‘Elijah went there and stood in front of the people. He said, “How long will it take you to make up your minds? If the Lord is the one and only God, worship him. But if Baal is the one and only God, worship him.” The people didn’t say anything. Then Elijah said to them, “I’m the only one of the Lord’s prophets left. But Baal has 450 prophets. Get two bulls for us. Let Baal’s prophets choose one for themselves. Let them cut it into pieces. Then let them put it on the wood. But don’t let them set fire to it. I’ll prepare the other bull. I’ll put it on the wood. But I won’t set fire to it. Then you pray to your god. And I’ll pray to the Lord. The god who answers by sending fire down is the one and only God.” Then all the people said, “What you are saying is good.” Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one of the bulls. There are many of you. So prepare your bull first. Pray to your god. But don’t light the fire.” So they prepared the bull they had been given. They prayed to Baal from morning until noon. “Baal! Answer us!” they shouted. But there wasn’t any reply. No one answered. Then they danced around the altar they had made. At noon Elijah began to tease them. “Shout louder!” he said. “I’m sure Baal is a god! Perhaps he has too much to think about. Or maybe he has gone to the toilet. Or perhaps he’s away on a trip. Maybe he’s sleeping. You might have to wake him up.” So they shouted louder. They cut themselves with swords and spears until their blood flowed. That’s what they usually did when things really looked hopeless. It was now past noon. The prophets of Baal continued to prophesy with all their might. They did it until the time came to offer the evening sacrifice. But there wasn’t any reply. No one answered. No one paid any attention. Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come here to me.” So they went to him. He rebuilt the altar of the Lord. It had been torn down. Elijah got 12 stones. There was one for each tribe in the family line of Jacob. The Lord’s message had come to Jacob. It had said, “Your name will be Israel.” Elijah used the stones to build an altar to honor the Lord. He dug a ditch around it. The ditch was large enough to hold 24 pounds of seeds. He arranged the wood for the fire. He cut the bull into pieces. He placed the pieces on the wood. Then he said to some of the people, “Fill four large jars with water. Pour it on the offering and the wood.” So they did. “Do it again,” he said. So they did it again. “Do it a third time,” he ordered. And they did it the third time. The water ran down around the altar. It even filled the ditch. When it was time to offer the evening sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward. He prayed, “Lord, you are the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel. Today let everyone know that you are God in Israel. Let them know I’m your servant. Let them know I’ve done all these things because you commanded me to. Answer me. Lord, answer me. Then these people will know that you are the one and only God. They’ll know that you are turning their hearts back to you again.” The fire of the Lord came down. It burned up the sacrifice. It burned up the wood and the stones and the soil. It even dried up the water in the ditch. All the people saw it. Then they fell down flat with their faces toward the ground. They cried out, “The Lord is the one and only God! The Lord is the one and only God!” ‘
A very dramatic story indeed…and I can reference many more. Recall Shadrack Meshack and Abednego who were thrown into the fiery furnace, and the flames were so hot that even the guards throwing them into the fire died. Yet God rescued them through the fire and they came out not even smelling of smoke. That light was perplexing…
The raising of Lazarus from the dead, not only did Jesus allow Lazarus to die, but the body was buried in a tomb for 4 days…perhaps some might say that it is possible for a man to be healed from sickness, but a dead man being raised from the dead? That light was perplexing…
When there is a distinction to be made, do not be surprised if God chooses to show a perplexing light. One that makes people look and wonder how any of this could be possible.
As Christians, we are told that we are a city on a hill, and the light of the world, let us examine the passage:
‘“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill can’t be hidden. Also, people do not light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand. Then it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine so others can see it. Then they will see the good things you do. And they will bring glory to your Father who is in heaven. ‘
Matthew 5:14-16
If you are the only light, the only example of a Christian that someone gets to see, I hope that your light is so glorious, so divine and so perplexing that it confuses them and thereby distinguishes Christ as the only one who can bring such light. So how can we be this light?
It is seen in the integrity of turning down a job or bribe because you are choosing to honor Christ.
It is seen in the selflessness of serving without a title and going above and beyond in every role you have, thereby displaying the excellence of Christ.
It is seen in the bravery in facing trials with God and believing Him to offer the peace that passes understanding.
It is seen in the boldness to share your faith even when you feel like you do not have all the right words to say.
It is seen in the courage to say that this little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine…
If you are going to bring about the distinction of Christ as a Christian, the truth is that it will often require you to go the extra mile. Jesus reminds us of this mandate in the following passaage:
Matthew 5:43-48
‘“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor. (Leviticus 19:18) Hate your enemy.’ But here is what I tell you. Love your enemies. Pray for those who hurt you. Then you will be children of your Father who is in heaven. He causes his sun to shine on evil people and good people. He sends rain on those who do right and those who don’t. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Even the tax collectors do that. If you greet only your own people, what more are you doing than others? Even people who are ungodly do that. So be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.’
Don’t be an ordinary light when you can be a perplexing one.
For indeed, when your light shines before men, they will give glory to God.
As I end this blog post, I encourage you to mediate on the following verses from John 1. May God’s word continue be a lamp to your feet and a light to your path.
John 1:1-14
‘In the beginning, the Word was already there. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were made through him. Nothing that has been made was made without him. Life was in him, and that life was the light for all people. The light shines in the darkness. But the darkness has not overcome the light. There was a man sent from God. His name was John. He came to be a witness about that light. He was a witness so that all people might believe. John himself was not the light. He came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. The Word was in the world. And the world was made through him. But the world did not recognize him. He came to what was his own. But his own people did not accept him. Some people did accept him and did believe in his name. He gave them the right to become children of God. To be a child of God has nothing to do with human parents. Children of God are not born because of human choice or because a husband wants them to be born. They are born because of what God does. The Word became a human being. He made his home with us. We have seen his glory. It is the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father. And the Word was full of grace and truth. ‘
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