COMING TO THE LIGHT

The story is told of an old mountain doctor who was called to go 'up the holler' for the delivery of Cora Jean's second baby. The house was located at the 'head of the holler' and didn't have electricity. When the doctor arrived, no one was home except for the laboring mother and her five-year-old son.

It didn't take the doctor long to see that he needed a light. Upon finding a lantern, the doctor instructed the son to hold it high so he could see. Once this was settled, he began to help the woman deliver her baby.

The child dutifully held the lantern high as his mother labored to deliver. It wasn't long till the doctor lifted a newborn baby by the feet and spanked him on the bottom to get him to take his first breath.

As the first baby began to cry, another baby popped out. No sooner had the doctor turned his attention to the second baby than a third popped out as well. It was at this moment that the little boy blew out the lantern.

In somewhat of a panic the doctor yelled, "What did you do that for?"

"It's the light. They're a comin' to the light," replied the boy.

Those of us who are old enough to know such things know that the light from the lantern had nothing to do with the birth of triplets. However, light has everything to do with the new birth.

"Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, 'I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life'" (John 8:12).

The new birth (John 3:3) can only be experienced after one is attracted to the "light". Like moths drawn to a light burning in the night, so are those who search for salvation drawn to the One who is the light of the world.

Not all men are happy with the light. Some prefer the darkness, because their deeds are evil. It is those men who are lovers of good deeds who come to the light. They are rewarded by having their deeds clearly seen that they are done in God (John 3:19-21).

Paul addressed the relation of light to the new birth by writing, "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light" (Ephesians 5:8).

As children of light, the Christian is to reflect the light of Christ (Matthew 5:14-16). The Christian becomes the light that attracts others to Christ. Through the good works of a Christian, the Heavenly Father is glorified and men are delivered from the darkness of sin.

Those who are born anew experience new life, because they were attracted to the light of the world. May their number increase and may they reflect that light all the days of their life.

By Glen Young

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