My dear readers,

The Light that Gives Life 

Proverbs 16:15: “In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.” 

Every life is a kind of light, including the life of unbelievers. The lives of unbelievers emanate a light that gives earthly life. Look at how the life of man has transformed to its present day with high-rise buildings because of the invention of elevators. Fast cars and jet planes have sped up the pace of life. Man’s new found mobility allows him to live more than two lives in one lifetime. He can move from one time zone to another because of the jet engine. Medical sciences seek to find a cure for all known diseases, or at least to subdue them in order to control and minimise their potency.

The life of mankind has changed forever especially after the invention of the internet. The virtual world and its technology have shrunk the world into a tiny bubble. Man can see and interact with the world from the comfort and convenience of his home. There is no stopping the life of 21^st-century humanity because of the light he has shined into every aspect of his life. But this life from the light of man ends at death. His life and light are good for this lifetime but not beyond.

In the case of the light of a king, the scope of his influence is his whole kingdom. His impact is the greatest of all as it brings life to all who live in his kingdom. If he raises taxes the people might suffer want. If he reduces taxes the people might enjoy a better life. The welfare he brings is a delight to his people like a cloud of the latter rain that waters the earth and gives life to the thirsty land. This is the influential power of a king!

We are not kings. But we represent the King of kings as His disciples on earth. He has finished His mission to save the world from sin when He offered Himself as the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. He has ascended to heaven and is seated at God’s right hand interceding for us. Why does He have to intercede for us? He intercedes for us because He has given to us a mission to bear His light to a world that crucified Him. That hatred has not diminished. That same hatred will now be unleashed on all His faithful disciples who must shine forth the light of Christ just as Christ did when He walked on this earth. It is therefore important that we do not forget the light of Christ that emanates from our lives. It must remain a delight just as a cloud of the latter rain was to farmers and shepherds and all who lived in the Land of Promise. It brought life to the Land. So too is the light of the countenance (face) of the King of kings.

What is this light of the King of kings? It is the light of the LORD Jesus Christ. We thank God for this light. This light shone from heaven onto the earth. We need to know this light. 

• It is from heaven– This light is the Word of God. The Bible is summarised by two words - Jesus Christ. We cannot know Christ without the Word of God. The perfect Word of God reveals to us the perfect Saviour and Lord. Through Christ we know God. Jesus says that the one who has seen Him has seen the Father. The ones who know Christ as Lord and Saviour know God as their Heavenly Father. 

• It saves-- The light of the King of kings gives life beyond this life. The light of all humans helps life on earth and not beyond. Man is in spiritual darkness because he is dead in sin. The light of Christ reveals to him his need for the Saviour Jesus Christ to save him from his sins against God. What awaits him at death is hell. Christ died for his sins. In Christ, he can have the forgiveness of all his sins from God. Death is removed from everyone whose sins have been washed by the blood of Christ. He will not die in sin but in Christ. He will find himself in heaven upon death. The light of Christ penetrates into his soul to cast out the darkness. His eyes are open. Once this light enters, the believer sees the spiritual realm before him. He sees this world with the eyes of Christ, his God. He lives his life in the light of His Word from henceforth. 

• It is holy– It not only saves but helps every believer to grow in grace and in the knowledge of God and Christ. The believer prays aright through the Word. He lives in Christ according to Scriptures. He is able to live in holiness because of the light of Christ. His life is abundant. He no longer measures his life by the abundance of his earthly possessions. Holiness characterises his life as the light of Christ that shines forth to all around him.

The light of the King of kings is now the light of every believer. Matthew 5:14-16:“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Amen.