Monday, May 13, 2013

John 1:11

In the end, He comes to his very own people-- those He created, but they refuse to take him in. John 1:11 EFP

Yesterday John makes the astounding declaration that the world to which the Word came—the very world He brought into existence, failed to recognize Him.  The people He came to bring back into the true light are so lost in darkness so oppressive they can not even recognize the light.  The darkness appears to swallow up the very light it came to dissipate.

Today the apostle adds a second tragedy to the appearance of the Light of God on earth.  Not only could they not recognize or in fact refused to recognize him, they apparently refuse to receive him even when they recognize him.  This is a description of the world during the time of John—the world into which the Word and Light of God comes and the very ones He seeks to save.  They apparently want nothing to do with his mission of mercy.

As easy as it would be to marvel at the blindness of those living during the first advent, it is sobering to consider how similar our situation remains today.  The Light of God still shines down among us, and the Word of God is still heard in our midst, yet we are so blinded by the tsunami of distractions and the glitter of pursuits, both vain and worthy, that we fail to see or hear the still and small voice of the Almighty calling us to come to the Light!  What’s more, we are in such a state of busy-ness and triviality that we fail to hear the knocking on the door of our lives and leave our only hope of salvation standing outside in the cold.  He comes to us—we are his people; his family!  Yet even today we refuse to take him in.  We choose the darkness inside and keep the light outside and at a distance.  How sad!

No comments: