The Word - Darkness to light

September 22, 2026

 Submitted by Rev. V. Young

Key points from this story:

• Light overcomes darkness
• Eternal life through belief
• Rebirth by God's will
• Judgement aligned with God
• Avoid love of money
• Hope for everlasting home

"Before anything else existed there was Christ with God. He has always been alive and is Himself God. He created everything there is - nothing exists that He didn't make. Eternal life is in Him, and this life gives Light to all mankind. His life is the Light that shines through the darkness - and the darkness can never extinguish it." (John i:1-5)

"All those who believe this are reborn - not a physical rebirth resulting from human passion or plan, but from the will of God." (John 1:13) Jesus replied, "With all the earnestness I possess I tell you this; Unless you are born again, you can never get into the Kingdom of God." (John 3:3)

For God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son so that anyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. God did not send His Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it. There is no eternal doom awaiting those who trust Him to save them. But those who don't trust Him have already been tried and condemned for not believing in the only Son of God. Their sentence is based on this fact: that the Light from heaven came into the world, but they loved the darkness more than the Light, for their deeds were evil. They hated the heavenly Light because they wanted to sin in the darkness. They stayed away from the Light for fear their sins would be exposed and they would be punished. But those doing right come gladly to the Light to let everyone see that they are doing what God wants them to. (John 3:16-21)

"For Moses gave us only the Law with its rigid demands and merciless justice, while Jesus Christ brought us loving forgiveness as well." (John 1:17)

Jesus says, "But I pass no judgement without consulting the Father. I judge as I am told. And my judgement is absolutely fair and just, for it is according to the will of God who sent me and is not merely my own." (John 5:30)

"And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those He has given me, but that I should raise them to eternal life at the Last Day. For it is my Father's will that everyone who sees His Son and believes on Him should have eternal life - that I should raise him at the Last Day."

"Stay away from the love of money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said 'I will never, never fail you nor forsake you.' That is why we can say without any doubt or fear, 'The Lord is my helper and I am not afraid of anything that mere man can do to me.'" (Hebrews 13:5-6) "For this world is not our home; we are looking forward to our everlasting home in heaven." (Hebrews 13:14) (All scriptures are taken from "The Living Bible.")