One Light
“And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.” (Rev 21:23)
Introduction
I have been working on a short devotional, “The Light of God”, for a service at the Rottnest Island chapel next Sunday. In the process I was impressed by the following from Jesus, “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matt 5:16). And from Paul, “the Lord has commanded us, saying, “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’” (Acts 13:47); “for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” (Eph 5:8 cf. 1 Thess 5:5). In Christ the Light (John 1:4; 8:12) you have become, and are becoming more and more, an enlightening being. We need to see that “the light of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor 4:4) is one with the shining end-times radiance of God’s people (Isa 60:5; Jer 31:12; Dan 10:8). A radiance reflecting the ever-close divine presence of the kingdom of heaven. Whilst bearing a “light-bearer” is foreign notion to Protestants, it is an essential to Eastern Orthodox spirituality., and I believe reflecting on the light of Christ will help the Church work as one today.
Uncreated Light
In the Middle Ages, the glory that “altered the appearance of Jesus face, and his clothing became dazzling white…” (Luke 9:29) on the Mount of Transfiguration, divided the Church across the globe. Could this “uncreated light” be shared with ordinary people? It seemed to have been shared be with Paul at his conversion, “I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me.” (Acts 26:13 cf. 9:3; 22:6), with Stephen at his martyrdom, “he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”” (Acts 7:55-56), and with John at the beginning of Revelation, “his face was like the sun shining in full strength. 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore” (1:16-18). Why were these men allowed to witness the stunning light of the Lord? The nature of “uncreated light” is found in the absolute uniqueness of the P/person of Jesus. Whilst “immortality” is a property limited by nature to God alone (1 Tim 6:16), it is now made available to mortals by the good news, “our Saviour Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Tim 1:10). Immortality is not a state to be attained (Rom 2:7), it is a relationship with the P/person of Jesus that will be consummated and fully revealed when we share in his glorious resurrection (Phil 3:21; 1 John 3:2).
The Absolute centre of judgment and glory
Returning to the stories of encounters with “uncreated light”, Luke tells us that Jesus was conversing with Moses and Elijah “about his exodus from this world, which was about to be fulfilled in Jerusalem” (Luke 9:31). It was by going to the cross-and-rising again that Jesus blazed a trail into glory (Luke 24:26). The glory of the risen Lord (John 12:28) which Stephen and John discerned was that of “a Lamb standing as slaughtered” (Rev 5:6). How can someone once confined in time and space as Jesus was now outshine the sun? The answer is the gospel. In going to the cross and in becoming sin for us (2 Cor 5:21), in moving outside of the all-enlightening presence of God (Ps 19; Isa 61:1; Rom 1:20), Jesus “prematurely” opens the cosmos up to the darkness of divine wrath coming in judgment (Joel 2:31; Amos 5:18, 20; Acts 2:20). The cost to the Lamb of extinguishing the blinding darkness of cosmic evil (2 Cor 4:4) is without measure, “there was darkness over the whole land…Jesus cried with a loud voice…“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”” (Mark 15:33-34), but his risen glory infinitely exceeds it (Eph 1:19; Phil 3:21). It is this radiant glory he is presently sharing with his Bride (Eph 5:27).
The One Light in the Churches
Revelation’s majestic vision (1:1, 20; 2-3) of 7 churches in 7 cities with 7 lampstands is NOT a vision of separation and distance, but of perfection and completion. Symbolically, this is the message of “seven”. More than that, it is indispensable that we spiritually see (Rev 1:10; 2:7 etc.) that each lampstand (church/assembly/fellowship/congregation Rev 1:20) is lit from the one lamp, which is the life of the Lamb. The undivided light of the Lamb (Rev 21:23) is the presence of the all-uniting glory of the Lord which Jesus has already received from the Father (Acts 2:33) to make his Church One (John 17:22). The mystery of our unity in the one God (Deut 6:4; John 10:30) is progressively revealed to us as we together increasingly indwell the single story/ testimony shared by Father, Son and Spirit expounded from Genesis to Revelation. Their one story from creation to consummation is how they are united as One light, and our union with Christ is the medium by which this single glory is imparted to us as a Body.
Living in the Light
John’s testimony is transparent, “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:5-7). To walk in the light, so as to sustain our communion with the Lord and with each other, involves a heart transparency which alone is able to communicate the glory of God for each other (cf. http://cross-connect.net.au/about/cross-connect-vision/ ). When a remnant faithfully lives in this openness before God and each other, what we call “revival” necessarily breaks out. This is why the first phase of revival is the public confession of dark thoughts held back from our Father, and from his children.
Conclusion
“once you were in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” (Eph 5:8), is an exhortation that applies to each of us and at all times. What are the aspects of your thinking not yet opened to your spouse, children, or the family of God, particularly its elders (James 5:14-16). It is through open confession that the church communicates to itself (Eph 5:19; Col 3:1) the eternal reality into which Jesus has entered on our behalf (Heb 9:12, 24), and which awaits us all as one indivisible Body (John 14:1-2). Be filled with the Spirit and keep speaking the Word that the Lord will unceasingly give you for others. Our future in Jesus is far greater than any of us have ever imagined. Glory! Hallelujah!