Into the Light
The motto of my school was "In Lucem", which is Latin for "Into the Light". It was during my schooldays that I started learning all about the Saviour of the world - MY Saviour - Jesus Christ.
At the beginning of the book of Genesis, when God was creating the universe, He commanded "Let there be light", and it was so. The dazzling light of the Lord appeared in a cloud to the Israelites who had made their escape from Egypt and slavery - the book of Exodus tells of this event. Psalm 27 verse 1 says "The Lord is my light and my salvation; I will fear no-one".
Jesus, the Son of God, spoke so many wonderful, often astonishing, words. In John chapter 8 verse 12 He declares "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will have the light of life and will never walk in darkness". (Darkness always stands for sin and evil). Jesus also said "I am the way, the truth and the life; no-one goes to the Father except by Me" (John chapter 14 verse 6).
When light shines, it shows up things as they really are - the true picture. A light, be it from torch, lantern or streetlamp, helps you to avoid stumbling when out in the dark. Light is LIFE. Plants need sunlight to make them grow green, strong and healthy. If you shut one away in a dark place it will very soon turn yellowish, weak and sickly, and eventually wither away. Light is ENERGY, energy and power, the very attributes of Jesus. "Power" went out from Him when He healed the diseased, the blind, the lame - in fact anyone who came to Him showing true faith, whether they were asking for help for themselves or a loved one.
St.Paul had some important words for people he met in the different places he visited in order to spread the Good News about Christ. He says to the Ephesians (chapter 5 verses 8 and 9)"You yourselves used to be in the darkness, but since you have become the Lord's people you are in the light. So you must live like people who belong to the light, for it is the light that brings a rich harvest of every kind of goodness, righteousness and truth".
So Christians are called to be like "light for the whole world". Jesus gave a simple domestic picture: "No-one lights a lamp and puts it under a bowl; instead he puts it on the lampstand, where it gives light to everyone in the house" (Matthew chapter 5 verses 14 and 15). Obvious! Jesus, the source of all energy, gives that energy to us if we ask Him - energy to follow Him all our lives, trust Him, and show people the brilliance of His everlasting love.