Smoodock's Blog

John tells us that in the Word was life and this life was the light of men (John 1:4). The Psalmist says: “With thee is the fountain of life; in thy light we shall see light” (Psalm 36:9). If I were to ask what the opposite of light is, probably everyone would say darkness. Isn’t that so? If I were to ask what is the opposite of life, most people would conclude non-existence or death. Isn’t this so? Here John makes light a synonym for life or perhaps consciousness. In a way this seems appropriate; doesn’t it? We do that ourselves; don’t we? We’ve heard people say, “I’ll knock his lights out;” or “The lights are on, but nobody’s home!” Light is often used even today as a synonym for life or consciousness. If someone is unconscious, he is not aware; it is like being in the dark.

What is John saying? Well, he is certainly referring to life, but I don’t think he means physical existence. I think John may be speaking about an awareness in man about immortality that has been placed there by God (Ecclesiastes 3:11). However, what does the average person really expect after this life is over? Many of us like to think everyone we know gets to heaven, simply because we like them. But, could this be so, simply because we would like it to be so? In the long run, I guess, without Christ, we simply don’t know. Do we? An atheist or agnostic would probably say something like: we can expect nothing—non-existence, period! What does non-existence look like? I think darkness, “blackness of darkness” (Jude 1:13), is a good description. Some religious folks who don’t accept Christianity might say all our experiences on this earth are an illusion, nothing is real. Nevertheless, whatever occurs after the illusion is gone, who is to say? So, again, we are faced with the unknown—darkness and death. Jesus once said: “the light of the body is the eye… but if you eye is evil, the body is full of darkness. If one’s light is darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matthew 6:22-23). If our awareness or consciousness has no hope, what a great darkness it is to see death creeping in day by day, and there is nothing one can do about it.

I’ve tried to imagine what death is like, not just passing on to Jesus, but death—non-existence. I can imagine a darkness in which nothing exists, but I cannot imagine not being aware of the darkness. It is odd that I cannot imagine what it is like to be unaware. I am unaware of life before I was born. I can listen to stories my parents told me, and what I learned of history in school and from private study. This almost seems like I was there watching it all take place, but I know that is not true. I didn’t exist before I was born. I wasn’t there to see it all take place or to affect anything for good or bad. I was irrelevant, and after this life, if I had no hope in Jesus, I’d be irrelevant again. My life would be no more than a blip in eternity, something that was, but is no longer. Where is the meaning in a blip in eternity? If I were the most powerful being alive today, what real meaning would all this be, if all it amounted to was a blip in the pulse of life in the human race?

John tells us that in Jesus is life, and his life shined as a beacon of light for mankind. It still shines today as the brightest and most influential life man has ever known. The Christian Gospel has been very successful in reporting this idea for many to consider. But, I think John is really referring to Jesus’ life long before his human birth. I think he has reference to Eden where the Tree of Life (Jesus) was offered to man as a gift, which would give him eternal life. This understanding or hope shone in the darkness of ages past, as men departed from God, but the darkness of the ways of men were unable to capture and destroy this light that was once offered to mankind (John 1:5). On the contrary, a remnant believed and hoped for that light to shine bright for mankind. Darkness simply could not put that light out.

In his first letter John says that “…eternal life, which was with the Father, was manifest to us!” (1John 1:2). That’s Jesus, folks. He has eternal life, and the good news is we can have it too. Darkness doesn’t have to squelch the light of our hope of living forever. Back in the 70s Joe Brooks wrote a ballad called “You Light up my Life!” It won all kinds of awards for him and Debbie Boone whose rendition made it popular. As I was thinking of Jesus being our Light, I couldn’t help but recall some of the lyrics of that beautiful ballad and apply them to Jesus.

So many nights I sit by my window
Waiting for someone to sing me his song
So many dreams I kept deep inside me
Alone in the dark but now
You’ve (Jesus) come along

Rollin’ at sea, adrift on the water
Could it be finally I’m turning for home (Jesus)?
Finally, a chance to say hey,
I love You (Jesus)
Never again to be all alone

You (Jesus) light up my life
You (Jesus) give me hope
To carry on
You (Jesus) light up my days
and fill my nights with song

[Lyrics by Joe Brooks; parenthesis mine]