A Willing Heart, the Key to Experiencing Life Giving Light

John 1:9-18

Following God is active and willful obedience. There needs to be a willingness to choose to follow God's instructions. The Lord will guides us and instructs us, but we need to listen and follow God's instructions if we are to experience the full benefits from the Lord. 

In John 1:9-18, we read about the true light. This light of God which is in us, shows us the truth, and we must accept the truth as difficult as this can be to accept. By acknowledging, confessing, and repenting our sins, we can experience the abundance of life. 

We also read in John 1 that the light of life shines on every man in the world (John 1:9-10). 

When Jesus came into the world, He revealed himself and the Father to the world. People were drawn to this light which is the light of life. Later, the disciples of Jesus went out into the world and spread what the Light had done. This continues now even in our generation.  Jesus has made God known to every human being. 

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 

John 1:9-10 ESV 

This is the function of the light. The light has been given to everyone so we would know objectively who we are and also know the Father. 

No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known. 

John 1:18 ESV 

Although the most of the Jews did not accept him, there were others who did accept Jesus. It is only a willing heart that can accept the light. The light was given to everyone, but you must have a receptive heart to receive it. 

He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 

John 1:11-12 ESV 

In the end, we have to choose. It is only by our willingness to choose to follow God that we can truly show our dedication and love for God. God has given people the freedom to choose. People have no excuse for making good or bad choices. They chose to follow or not to follow God. Often times when we fail in righteousness, so we look for excuses. The truth is that God has given us everything to make the right choices. We just need to be willing. 

The Light of Life operates in coordination with the willingness of our hearts (John 1:11-13). 

These days the church is everywhere. There are very few people who have not heard about Jesus or the church. People know when they have done wrong. We feel guilty when we do immoral acts. Even in a world of improbity, we know what proper behavior is. Moreover, the Lord reveals himself to us at a personal level. 

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.  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." 

John 3:19-21 ESV 

There are those people who seem good and keep busy with good works. Yet, these people who may seem good actually like the darkness. They do not want people to see, or for themselves to see how weak and awful they are. These people are content in living in the darkness. These same people see themselves as righteous although they are not. 

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 

John 1:12-13 ESV 

The people who are willing to believe in Jesus will be given the life that was lost at the fall of man. The truth about who we are is that we have been born according to the will of God. We are not made but born. We know that no one is born fully mature. We grow and it takes time. 

John tells us that the light shines on everyone, but it is only when we accept that life that it lets us grow. There still needs to be a willingness to let the light work in us. Growth and development takes time and is not a linear as we would like. We will make mistakes and sometimes lose growth. 

Imperfection does not equate to abnormality. The day to day failures we experience is an opportunity for us to work on the willingness of our heart. When we are shown when we have sinned, it is the light of God showing us that we need to return to God. This revelation of weakness shows a healthy relationship and can lead to growth. 

God wants us to make good choices, but He will not do it for us. Memorizing the scriptures and knowing God is meaningless unless we are willing to allow God to work in us. To experience growth requires our willingness. It must be a total willingness. In fact, we fall sometimes because of our compromises. If we keep resisting, we will not grow.  

Some of us have locked ourselves in a state of stagnation because we are not willing to listen to God. Whatever we are struggling with, we need to ask how our heart is responding to this. Let the light of life shine on our hearts so we may choose growth in righteousness.