The words that are truly the talk of the world wide web right now are those of Amanda Gormon, the youngest inaugural poet. Please hear my heart, this post has no political intention and is in no way to bash her but to rub some of her words against the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God and see if what was shared today lines up with what is found in God’s Word regarding Light.

If you would like to dig into this a little please continue.

The words in Gormon’s poem that are being most quoted I see is, “The new dawn balloons as we free it. For there is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.” These words however could not be more contrary to the gospel.

Now before you go throwing rocks at me, will you listen to a story I heard a barefooted, very ill boy share on the other side of the world? This story I watched change his entire household. This story brought this young boys father to deep tears of joy. This story brought a real hope. This story has also changed my life. This story is the gospel.

I will never forget as the boy stood, holding onto his father’s hand to keep his small diseased body up and shared the same story that has also changed my life. Let all who has ears hear what he shared. God is light! Man is a dark sinner and can not go near God who is Light. Light came down to man. Jesus died on the cross as a perfect sacrifice for mans sin. Jesus rose from the dead and is alive today. Jesus is the light and He is the way for dark man to have life with God forever.

It’s simple but its profound and it’s the gospel. Oh friends, I invite you to test the words, are we brave enough to be the light as was quoted in the inaugural quote today? Does the light come from within each of us? Or does the light come from somewhere/someone else? Let’s look at scripture.

Years ago Isaiah prophesied about this Light that would come, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” As we read on we read who this Light is “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.”

Jesus’ disciple John also wrote about this same Light. “There was a man sent from God whose name was John(he is referring here to John the Baptist). He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him, Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will but born of God.” John 1:6-13

I’m not sharing all this to throw scripture at you, but to give you rest and give good news. You don’t have to be brave and try to find the light from within. Do you try hard and find that you are never good enough? Truly you won’t ever find the light within yourself. You can try and try and try to muster up all the good. The pharisees loved doing this one!!! I loved doing this one for a long time myself. The gospel comes with a little bad news that may sting. You are not the hero of the story nor ever could be. Satan’s greatest disguise is one of angel masquerading as light but he is not the true light nor are you. “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world….” The gospel says we could never ever, ever be light ourselves. For we have all fallen short of the glory of God and evil is deep within all our hearts. Just as the little boy I met on the other side of the world proclaimed, “Man is dark.” The gospel is greater than yourself, as any good story is. The gospel is about the glory of another. The gospel is Jesus. “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world….” The world would not recognize him. The world would hate him. The world would crucify him. Jesus hung on a wooden cross enduring the wrath you and I both deserve for the darkness we have committed in all our thoughts, all our words, all our deeds. Sin must be punished and Jesus took the punishment we each deserve so one could receive forgiveness and come into glorious eternal fellowship with him being reconciled to a Holy God. Jesus gives the invitation, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12) Jesus invites you to turn to Him and have the light of life!!!!!

Friend, there are many other scriptures I could share with you on light and darkness. I encourage you to spend sometime digging into the scriptures yourself and dig for some gold and test and see for yourself if all above is true! A simple google search on scriptures with “Light” you may find helpful.

I will leave you with these words God led the apostle Paul to write to a group of believers in Corinth that are for the believer today. “We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all – surpassing power is from God and NOT from us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7

And then brother and sister in Christ you are to let your light shine who is Christ the Lord!

Keep your eyes on the eternal,

Lane