The True Light

The LORD’s light penetrates the human spirit, exposing every hidden motive.

Proverbs 20:27

The gospel of John describes Jesus as “the one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone” (John 1:9). Created light is a copy of True Light. The True Light existed before created light and will continue to exist long after created light is no longer necessary.

When Jesus, the True Light, comes into your life, he brings with him all the power and the attributes of light in its truest form.

Light exposes. It brings hidden motives out of hiding. On the surface, that sounds a bit intimidating. But remember who is exposing your motives. It is Jesus, who loves you so much that he died in your place and rose again to make his home in you. You can feel safe under the scrutiny of his light.

Jeremiah describes our hearts—our inner beings—this way: “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? ‘I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve’” (Jeremiah 17:9-10, NIV).

He is describing the state of our lives apart from salvation; we can easily fool ourselves, and we don’t understand our own motives. It is impossible for us to correctly assess our hearts.

Have you ever asked yourself, Why do I do that? What makes me think like that? When the revealing Light illuminates your innermost being, you discover the motives—often built on lies—that seem to drive your behavior. Then the True Light goes a step further.

Light heals. It irradiates bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Vitamin D—an essential element for healthy bodies—can be produced only by light. Medicine is continually finding more ways to use light to reduce pain and inflammation and accelerate tissue repair.

The True Light brings into your life his healing power—irradiating sin’s toxins, soothing painful soul wounds, and adding power to overcome wrong behaviors.

Light of the World, shine into the deep places of my heart and reveal those hidden motives that have kept me enslaved to fruitless behaviors.

I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.

C. S. Lewis(1898–1963), Irish novelist, literary critic, and essayist