A fisherman named John (and many others) witnessed the glory of Jesus and received new life. “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
But not everyone recognized the glory of the Father. “In Him was light, and that light was the life of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” (John 1:4-5)
Worse, John further explained that the light was rejected because of a love of the opposite. “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:19)
Though God “wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth,” there is an ongoing battle. Paul shared that the light must penetrate the heart for a person to really encounter the glory of God. Satan wants darkness to rule.
“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God… For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” (II Corinthians 4:4,6)
Jesus is the Light and the Answer for spiritual darkness. He lives in those who put their faith in Him. Paul calls this God’s mystery: “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27) We want to bring glory to our Savior and He wants us to witness His glory.
May we live for the glory that counts.
“Father, I want those You have given Me to be where I am, and to see My glory, the glory You have given Me because You loved Me before the creation of the world.” John 17:24
“But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” II Corinthians 3:16-18