You Can't Have it Both Ways

Daily Lectionary Reading
Psalm 50
Deuteronomy 9:23-10:5
Hebrews 4:1-10
John 3:16-21

John 3:16-21
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.[b] 19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."[c]

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The story of Nicodemus and his encounter with Jesus continues with today's reading. It begins with, perhaps the best know verse in the Bible--John 3:16. Jesus is trying to explain eternal life to a man that cannot see what he is talking about. I find it interesting that Jesus refers to himself at Light. "Light that has come to the world." He knows that Nicodemus, as brilliant as he might be, is still literally in the dark when it comes to understanding God's plan for humanity. Jesus proclaims, "men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil." He then goes on to equate a right relationship with God with living in truth. Those that live in truth have come into the light.

This light and dark theme will appear at other places in John's Gospel. I especially like the fact that there is no gray area. Jesus paints it rather plainly, you are either in the light or you are in the dark. There is no in between. You can't have one foot in the light and the other in the dark. You are either on board with God's plan or you are firmly in the world's grasp. Too many Christians like to think that they can have it both ways. It's okay to be lax in one area of my life as long as I am strong in another. I don't think that this is what Jesus is saying. Either we believe or we don't. There's no middle ground.

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Prayer: Lord, help us to believe and stand firmly in the Light.