The Light

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. … He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:1-14

You don't become more righteous by listing the things you've done right.

You can only become righteous by letting God’s light shine through you. “Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20). No one can measure up to God’s requirement of righteousness, and no one can manufacture their own light. Only God creates light, and He gives light to the world so that we might know Him. You can let God’s light shine through you and you can reflect His light, but nothing you do can make you become the light. You are a light bearer as you bear witness of the light, but you are not a light creator.

You cannot turn on or off darkness.

Darkness does not exist. It is defined as the absence of light; it is not a thing that can be studied. You can turn off the light and you can hide the light, but you cannot turn on darkness. You have to turn off the light for it to be dark. Darkness cannot comprehend light because darkness is a lack of meaningful information. A prism can break light down into waves that can be studied, and through light you can study other things. When you see the world through God as the light, you can better understand it. But without God, the world lacks meaningful content. Light does not become brighter when you study it, but by studying it and living by the light, you are then able to explain the light to others. Your presentation of the light doesn’t change the light either, it simply provides an opportunity for someone in darkness to step out and see the light.

The gates of Heaven are the gates of righteousness.

Just as light is the way you are able to study everything else, so righteousness is the gate that allows you to look into God’s dwelling place. Jesus is righteous; He is the gate we enter through to God’s city to praise Him. “The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there).” (Revelation 21:23-25). When Jesus is your light, He shows you the door to God’s presence as He lights the path before you. “Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go through them, and I will praise the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord, through which the righteous shall enter.” (Psalm 118:19-20). Jesus’ light of righteousness shines out like a beacon to those who are in darkness to come to the gate and let the lamb become your righteousness.