The Light of Man
Most of us attempt to live wisely. We read guides on how to become wealthy, remain healthy, acquire friends, and succeed in our careers. Most of us also strive to live correctly. We outwardly show that we are good and do good. Do we, however, find peace, joy, and freedom for our souls with our own wisdom and goodness?

According to the Bible human understanding and self-satisfaction leave man and his neighbor in the shadow of despair. A rich young man, among others, experienced this cold and darkness. Neither wealth nor the practice of virtue had brought peace to his heart. In his distress he came to ask Jesus for help (Mark 10:17-22). One worshipper experienced another person's coldness. He heard a conceited man pray, boasting of himself and despising him (Luke 18:3). Judas, regretting his deeds, also received a disheartening answer from self-satisfied people: "See thou to that" (Matt.27:1-4).

By light Jesus meant the merciful love which in God's kingdom shines from Him as power and comfort to those who have experienced this world's darkness and cold. A woman caught in adultery was able to experience the light of God's merciful love. The people who found fault in her would have been ready to stone her to death. Jesus proclaimed words that opened to her the possibility of a new life: "Go, and sin no more" (John 8:11). The thief on the cross experienced the same. In the face of death, he felt responsible for his deeds. Jesus spoke words of the future and of hope to him: "Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise" (Luke 23: 43).

The Light of Christ
Jesus brought light to the hearts and lives of many people by proclaiming the message of God's kingdom, the joyful message of the forgiveness of sins. In that light they experienced their own sinfulness, but at the same time God's goodness toward them and all people. They became like burning candles: the wick is black, the exterior melts and becomes smaller and smaller, but the flame lights the surrounding area. Jesus sent His own to proclaim repentance and the forgivness of sins to all creatures. God's kingdom, in which pardoned sinners proclaim this message, is still on the earth. This kingdom is hidden from the world, but in the midst of the cold world God awakens those who have questions to seek and to find the road to the light that is among His own.

God has allowed us to find this kingdom of forgiveness. Its light has surpassed all the measures of reason and human goodness. The goodness of Christ, of which we partake by faith, shines amid sinful and faulty people. The word of Scripture has been accomplished: "In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name"(John 1:4, 5,11, 12).

Your Light
Would you like to live in such light? We convey Christ's forgiveness to you and invite you to live among pardoned people. God is merciful to us and we are merciful to one another every day. Our faith and life obtain power from daily forgiveness. Christ wishes to give light to your life as well.