WHILE YE HAVE LIGHT
John 12:34 The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man? 35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. 36 While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them. 37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:
Healed But Still Sick
The last verse listed above is a sad commentary on man’s receiving the goodness of God, but never acknowledging him with thankfulness! Its like the hogs eating acorns under the oak tree, but never looking up to see where they come from! James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
But what is even worse is that they used their regained health, afforded them in the healing of their body’s, to deny him as the Son of man, as shown in verse 34! Matt. 9:35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. Luke 9:11 And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.
The strength of the restored limbs were now used to walk into his presence to deny him! The strength of their eyes for which he had recovered sight were now used to find their way to him to denounce him as God’s Son! Their strong voices, once weakened with disease were now used to cry out against their Healer! They were made strong so that the shouts of, “Crucify him!” might extend the depth of his sufferings! Isaiah 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
But he provided was a more glorious healing, not just of physical diseases! There was the healing of men’s souls by the depths of suffering he endured! Bless His holy name! Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Romans 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
The Heavenly Father saw the travail of his soul, and was only then “satisfied” with that payment for the transgressions of all believers! Isaiah 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
Using Scripture Against the Word
In verse 34 of our above listed passage we see a very common, but extremely dangerous occurrence among professing religionists. They arm themselves with memorized verses that are used to deny the workings of the spiritual word! For the scriptures apart from the Spirit are deadly! 2Cor. 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
The Person of the Word (John 1:1,2,14) has this to say regarding his words: John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. In order for Christ’s words to be alive to one’s soul, they must be received by the Holy Spirit’s application. It is good to inject the scriptures into your mind, but only the Spirit can get them into one’s heart!
And you can know that you are receiving the true spiritual word if the Person of Christ is being made real to you. John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
We must not learn ‘doctrine’ apart from the Person of the Word! Christ IS our redemption! Christ IS our righteousness! Christ IS our wisdom! Christ IS our sanctification! If these graces are presented to the religionist apart from Christ, he will glory in his own merits while embracing them, and wind up in Hell! 1Cor. 1:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
While Ye Have Light
The command to us from the Light of the World, who is Christ (John 8:12, 9:5), is to believe in presently received light! These religionists had the light of the Father’s voice speaking to His spiritual Son! (John 12:28-30). But they only heard “thunder!” Or some supposed that they heard an angel! – But they missed the revelation!
Then in verses 31-33, they were privileged to hear the Greatest Preacher preach on the most glorious subject ever undertaken – the cross of Christ! – But they were not moved to repentance, but to rebuttal!
They believed nothing of the light from God being given them at that present time! Heb. 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. 3 For we which have believed do enter into rest,
The result of “faith taking hold of the word” is becoming the children of light! But their religious light, apart from faith in Christ, was a remaining in spiritual darkness, caused them to enter into eternal darkness! Luke 11:34 The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness. 35 Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.
The judgment of darkness comes upon those who reject light! Amos 8:9 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day: 11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: 12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.
Those who harbor inner darkness are all too soon cast into outer darkness! Matt. 22:13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Jer. 13:15 Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the LORD hath spoken. 16 Give glory to the LORD your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness. 17 But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD’S flock is carried away captive.
Just as Christ, the corner stone, when rejected, becomes a rock to grind the unbelievers to powder, so Mount Sion, the true church, which is also called, the light of the world, becomes a “dark mountain” to stumble those who reject it’s light!
1Peter 2:7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
Light Weeping For the Darkness
Luke 19:41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, 42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. 44 … and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.
Pastor Gene Breed
