The Light of the Gospel
Most Pastors want to start the new year and reaffirm and review the vision of the Church. They tend to focus on the mission for their own local Church rather than the mission for the whole Body of Christ. As the Pastor of our congregation I began to seek God for direction. It is in my heart for us to become personal soul winners. To become a church that adopts the Book of Acts model growth – taking the gospel to homes, the work place, our neighborhood, and the other places where we encounter people. This is the message God laid on my heart to deposit into the hearts of our congregation.
Personal evangelism is difficult to say the least. It can be very frightening for the person sitting in the pew as well as for the person behind the pulpit. In his prologue, John gives us a word that should inspire us to move ahead and challenge the power of darkness that rules the lives of so many of our family and friends. John 1:1 – 5 says,
In the beginning was the word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
John states that light shined into darkness and darkness did not comprehend light. In our language comprehend means to understand or perceive what someone is saying. The word John used means to overcome or master someone or something. What John is saying, and as many translation say in verse five, is that darkness cannot overcome light because light is more powerful than the darkness.
Confront Darkness
In this battle between good and evil, Christians are afraid to confront the darkness. We get concerned that people will reject us if we try to share the gospel with them. But if the Word of God is true, and is as powerful as it states, then light holds the high ground in this battle. Darkness cannot overcome it.
Evil is a person or a thing that overtakes someone and brings destruction and torment. Good is the holy power and influence of Christ to influence the mind and will of individuals to prompt them to move toward God and direct them in their lives. I certainly understand, especially in the culture I pastor in, that darkness seems to hold the upper hand in the lives of most people. Because of the apparent power of darkness, many Christians don’t or won’t even stand against the influence that darkness seems to possess.
My reaction to this situation is that we will never know if light is stronger if we don’t at least give light an opportunity to overcome the darkness. Satan, the ruler of the darkness, reigns through deception – not by the power of truth. Scripture says the devil is the father of lies and that truth in not in him. Truth and grace came by Jesus Christ (John1:17) so it is the followers of Jesus Christ that have the position of power in this battle. But we have come to believe in ourselves that we hold victory in our hands and that darkness cannot overcome the light.
Share Light
As we begin this new year let’s do these things:
- Learn who we are in Christ
- Believe in the power of God that resides in those born again by the blood of Jesus
- Confront the darkness that overwhelms our families and friends
- Deposit the light of the Gospel into the hearts of those living in darkness
Light shines through the Word of God bringing life, hope, regeneration, and truth that will deliver them from the destruction and torment that darkness has brought in their lives. Be willing to present light to someone. You have the Gospel. Give it as light. It will always overcome darkness.