Blinded by the light of the Gospel

Anna Lyndsey (a pseudonym) is allergic to light. In 2006, while working indoors in a London office, Anna began to notice that the skin on her face had a burning sensation after exposure to her computer screen and fluorescent lighting. She was diagnosed with photosensitivity – and became prone to severe “sunburn” from any source of light. She had to leave her job. She moved out of the city but her condition continued to worsen. Even multiple layers of clothes did not protect her, she was only comfortable in totally blacked-out rooms. She would occupy herself with word-games, audiobooks, and writing in the dark.

Although there is no obvious cause or cure, Anna says she feels quite optimistic…

“Because this condition is such an unknown quantity, nobody has told me that it can’t be cured, although nobody has told me that it can be.”

In the spiritual world, there are many who are allergic to the light of the gospel, but thankfully Jesus knows both the cause of and the cure for this light allergy

1. THE CAUSE

John 3:17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Under the cover of nighttime darkness, a powerful and respected Jewish leader, Nicodemus, comes to Jesus for a private conversation. Following the most famous verse in the Bible about God’s love, John 3:16, we are introduced to a word that is common in evangelical circles today: it’s the word saved.

We say that a person is saved if they are a born again Christian; if they are a true believer. We get that terminology from this verse, but perhaps we fail to fully grasp its meaning. From verse 17 we see that being saved is the opposite of being condemned.

To be saved means to be rescued from a deserved condemnation for your sin. To put it bluntly: saved from Hell.

How do we recognize someone who is not saved?

John 3:18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

The first symptom of someone who is not saved is their unbelief.

John 3: 19-20 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.

The second symptom of being unsaved is disobedience.

But what is the cause of this unbelief and disobedience? Is it that there is not enough evidence in the Bible? Is it that there is not enough clarity as to what they must do? Is it because they haven’t heard?

No, the answer is that the actions of unbelief and disobedience are spawned from a heart that hates the light and loves sin…

19-20 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.

You might wonder – why don’t all people everywhere want eternal life?

And the answer lies in understanding that being saved doesn’t only mean being saved from Hell, but it also means being saved from sin. In other words, trusting in Jesus will not only save you from the eternal consequences of sin but will also liberate you from your actual sins. And this is what many people don’t want. They love the darkness, they love their sin, they don’t want to give that up. They have a spiritual Stockholm syndrome, where they love their captor and resist liberation from the darkness of sin.

Unbelievers are allergic to the light because light burns up the mould of their sin. Turning from their sin might cost them friends, and money, and time, and pleasure, and autonomy.

Being a Christian takes the enjoyment out of sinning. Many will accept the gospel until you get to the part about repentance because they love their darkness.

So, the cause of the allergy to the light of the gospel is the love of sin……

2. THE CURE

John 3:20 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.

Like mould, sins need darkness in which to thrive. And the best disinfectant is the light. So, the cure for sin is to expose it to the light of God’s truth. Live your life in the illuminating truth of God’s word and the revealing gaze of accountability. Have nothing to hide and nothing to be ashamed of.

Come to the light and bare your sin. If you don’t, your sin will fester. Eventually, it will grow out of your control and be revealed in the end.  Whenever you realize you are in the dark, just do the next right thing: stop sinning and expose your sin. Repent and confess. Remember that Jesus died to take the punishment for your sin – so bring it to him and be done with it.

Author: Cripplegate