Monday, December 26, 2005

Jesus addresses two issues in four verses of the Gospel of John that address the universal condition of mankind while also addressing the relative darkness of the world. It is against this backdrop that we can appreciate His brilliant radiance.

John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. John 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. John 3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

The first issue, Original Sin, is still debated amongst adults and some - perhaps relying too strongly on John 3:16 - have forgotten what Jesus says in John 3:17-18. Why would 21st Century Mankind need a Savior if it had not already been condemned?

On his deathbed, at 38 or 39 years of age, Henry Thoreau was asked by his aunt whether he had made his peace, with God. In typical fashion, Thoreau answered, "I did not know that I had made an enemy of Him."

We cannot square Thoreau's view of things with Christ's comments from John. Thoreau suggests that one must first trespass consciously before there is an actual trespass. His perspective is shared by several men in a Bible study we attend - even after spending 15 months reading Genesis. While Jesus describes how that failure to believe in Him results in the condemnation, these men adopt Thoreau's view - that one needs to knowingly trespass or offend before one would need to "make his peace with God."

In Christ's other example, contrasting darkness to His light, I have an image of a world that is preponderantly dark. In this image, the spark of light that is present in one Christian as they leave their hut or home is the equivilent of one candle-power. We know from reading Revelation that Christ's brilliance is so great that no gaseous sun will be needed after Christ returns, however, He has not returned - so the extremely dark world is the environment into which each Christian enters each day. To me, the contrast and overwhelming disproportionate numbers warring in the current spiritual battle on earth are obvious.

Some of the men from the Bible study, along with Henry Thoreau, may envision a well illuminated world having very little darkness and needing very few Christian candle-power. I accept the description of a very dark world that is presented by Christ.