In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. – John 1:4,5

Awhile back, I had contacted a local electrician to come in and perform a lighting check for our school where I work. He came in and noticed that we had several lights that were in need of either new bulbs and/or ballast replacements. One particular area which was in need of bulb replacements was our faculty/break area. Upon completion of the job, he was off and running to his next assignment for the day.

One of my teacher co-workers was one of the first on the scene to visit the newly lit area. She walked in and stepped back exclaiming, “Wow! you don’t realize how much you were in the dark until there is new light”. Bam! Immediately, I thought this is so true in our own lives as well. If we are not careful to stay in the Word and keep that intimate relationship with the Lord fresh and alive each day, we too can become complacent and comfortable giving no thought that we too can enter into a subtle area of darkness that eventually leads to sin.

When God entered the world in the form of baby Jesus over two thousand years ago, He entered a world that had become so complacent living in darkness that many failed to see His true identity and the purpose for which He was sent. Scripture tell us in John 1:11,12 that He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him. Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.

What a thought that the giver of all life and the very one who placed every star in the sky and knows them by name. The very one who was rejected by His own yet still came to be born, live and ultimately die for them. The very image of God the Father in living form coming down from heaven to die in our place.

There might even today be some dark areas in your life that you’re not even sure how they got there but you would like the light of God’s forgiveness, mercy and grace to set you free, I invite you today to ask Him to deliver you. Just recite this simple prayer:

“Jesus, I thank You for coming to my rescue. Thank You for coming into this dark world and shining Your light of love, forgiveness, grace and mercy in order to set me free. I accept Your forgiveness that You provided on the cross at Calvary and ask that You would wash me clean by Your blood that was shed for me on that day. Thank You for saving me. Thank You for forgiving me. Thank You for accepting me. And finally, thank You for reserving me a place in heaven with You and preparing that place even now. In Jesus name, Amen.”