The Light of the World

Jesus is the light of the world. To follow Him is to walk in the light. The coming of light to one who has known only darkness can be terrifyingly painful. The light shines upon us and begins to reveal places of darkness that we don't want to look at and certainly don't want others to see! But true light does not discriminate. It shines into a place and whatever is there, is exposed. The light can be welcomed and received by faith - or it can be rejected, and the darkness becomes deeper still. Blaise Pascal received that light in a terrifying and transforming but beautiful experience that left him feeling that all he had done up to that time was but straw compared to his new beginning. Pascal wrote a description of his experience and sewed the paper he had written it into his coat lining. It was discovered a few days after his death. He begins his description with the word "Fire!" The fire of God's light burns all that within us is not of Him, not usable for His kingdom. And though it is painful, without it we are left with the straw of an unredeemed life. And straw makes a poor foundation for eternity!