Light Bearers

By Pastor Chad

In grad school, one of my peers was blind. While in the library one day, I looked out a window and noticed my blind classmate meandering right outside the library door. It was a balmy spring day with a Texas thunderstorm on the horizon. Nervous that he would be caught out in the storm, I went outside to see if he was okay.

“Hey, man,” I said, “there is a thunderstorm coming. Best not to be wandering outside. Can I help you get somewhere?”

“Yes!” he eagerly replied, “I’m wanting to get to the Student Center, but I'm unsure how to get there. Can you walk me there?”

This young man was standing outside with a looming thunderstorm just waiting for someone to guide him to the right place. He needed help; it was nothing extensive – just someone to walk him to safety. This is analogous to the many lost souls searching for answers in this dark, scary world. Death [the great storm] looms upon the horizon, those wandering in darkness know they need help but are confused which way to go.  

John 20:1 says, “Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.” Mary Magdalene (and several friends) went to the tomb early on Sunday morning when it was still dark outside to complete the unfinished burial process. 

There is no arbitrary or careless word written by John. He was very strategic in his writing. When he writes that Mary went to the tomb very early when it was still dark outside, it is intentional. It symbolizes that Mary was walking toward Christ, but in the dark as to His work on the cross. 

There are millions upon millions in our world that are wandering in the dark. They know life must have more meaning than simply birth and death, but there is a massive gap in their understanding. They don’t know what life is all about. They want to flourish, but are lost and in the dark. That is where we come in. We know the Way, the Truth, the Life, and the Light. We have the answer to their confusion. We can provide hope in the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Let me ask you a question: Do you really believe someone must know the gospel to be saved? If so, does your evangelistic life reflect that? Granted, many will not listen to us, but there are many that will. Many that are blindly seeking meaning and purpose. Many that will eagerly answer the call of the gospel. We, however, must go to them. We must communicate the gospel to them. 

Souls are at stake. Let’s be believers that are constantly looking for evangelistic opportunities. Let’s be a church that is a light in a lost world seeking purpose and meaning.