“And the light shines in the darkness,…” – John 1:5
I often marvel at how God persues people. People who love darkness and have thus far chosen not to love Him. God loves and loves to be loved. And aparently, He will stop at nothing to ensure that every human heart finds its ultimate fulfilment in Himself.
God has no sin. He is sinless, but even the fowlest huan sin cannit frighten Him away. What you and I do is not a surprise to God.
Sometimes, I hear people finding comfort for their soul by saying “it’s ok. God looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7) That phrase was spoken to the prophet Samuel to ensure that he would choose to anoint David the man which God had chosen to appoint as king over Israel. It was not to sooth Samuel’s conscience. Nor was it to justifythe motives of David’s heart were good. It was God reserving His divine right to choose.
In another place, Scripture tells us that “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9) To be sure, “desperately wicked” is a sorry state of existence. With hearts so desperate, we cannot even predict the depths of wickedness to which humanity can stoop. And history is littered with atrocities which make our bones sudder with horror.
It is evident that “men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:19) “The Lord does not see as man sees.” For in this world, when we see a man steal, human law calls him a theif. But God sees differently. When a person steals, God is not caught by surprise. God’s law says that the man has stolen because he was already a thief! Humanity is condemned by God because of the heart’s desperation for sin. According to God, people murder because they are murderers. They lie because they are liars. He judges the heart before there is any action at all!
God truly does “look at the heart.” That is why He sent Jesus. It is why Jesus had to accomplish salvation for us.
Despite all that is within us, God is in hot persuit of humanity. Jesus came to “save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21) Without fear of getting dirty, the Holy Spirit shines within the dark recesses of the human heart; leading them to Christ. This was what brought me to Christ. I can still recall how the presence of God touched my heart and led me to experience salvation in Jesus Christ.
Think of how God has convicted your own heart of sin. He is Holy; disarming all that resides in hidden darkness; in the shadows of human ego, lust and hatred. Not to destroy us, but to heal what is broken and remains in darkness. To release the human heart from its shadowed past and set it free to a glorious future.
“The light shines in the darkness.”
There is no other way to come to Christ. Hear His call to follow Him today.