revjoaquinwillisweb.gifToday, God may ask, “Is Your Light On?”

How we see Jesus determines whether His light is shining in us.   Being a conduit of that light takes courage, and depends upon our personal wiring, wattage and wages.

In John 12:35, Jesus says, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer.  Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. Put your trust in the light while you have it so that you may become sons of light.”

We may be unable to switch on our light.  The wiring of our theology may have a weak connection.    Many Christians are only dim, flickering lights for Christ, “Cotton Candy
Christians,” spreading the Word with a little Jesus sprinkled on top.

John 1:4-5 says, “Christ’s life was (is) the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” 

This “darkness” is evil.  When we follow Jesus, the Light of the world, we avoid walking blindly into sin.  Christ lights the path, allowing us to see how to live.  He removes the darkness of sin from our lives, our souls and consciousness.

Many are prisoners of darkness.  Many more are confined by fears of rejection, of being unloved or misunderstood.  Others are captives of uncertainty, or of the fear of sickness or death. All these fears can be overcome through the liberating light of salvation.

In John 12: 46, Jesus speaks of “the wattage.”  He said, “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.”

Can others see the light of Christ in your actions?  Does it shine as a 25-watt or a 100-watt bulb?   

Sometimes our acts distort His light, like the black lights at ‘70s disco parties. Just as garish beams can show lint on our clothes, and cheapen our expressions, they can harshly reveal our souls and characters, instead of reflecting the Light of Christ in our hearts. When we look back upon what was “cool,” we often find our darkest days.  

Paul, in Romans 6:23, said that, “The wages of sin is death.”  To each of us is assigned at least one demon to tax our wages and to get us fired from God’s service.  After Christ’s illuminating words at the Temple, he left.  The unbelief of the people had created darkness.  The devil would not permit obedience to Christ’s teaching, or respite from the wages of sin. 

Jesus said in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 

When the light of the truth about Jesus comes into us, it illuminates us.  We can then make manifest His light by helping others. 

In Luke 8:16, Christ says, “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.”

Our witness for Christ is made bold and public when we do not hide it, but allow others to see His light shining in us.  We then know that “Our Light Is On!”

The Rev. Dr. R. Joaquin Willis is pastor of the Church of the Open Door at 6001 NW 8th Ave., Miami.  To contact the church, call 305-759-0373 or email the pastor at pastoropendoorc@bellsouth.net.