Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “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 New Revised Standard Version
I fully believe this. But this light of life isn't just for the individual follower. When we believe in the Light, we become children of the Light (John 12:36). We need to show this light of the world.
This world is captured in darkness and its cultures are bound with it. We need to repel the darkness of violence, murder, war, greed, exploitation, injustice, tyranny, destruction, deception and every kind of evil. And make this Light shine better, where love, peace, justice, truth, liberty, and life would be widespread.
We need to go beyond policy changes. We need people's hearts to change so that the cultures of darkness can dissipate and be replaced with the cultures of light. This isn't to suggest there shouldn't be any practical steps to protect others from the effects of the darkness. But all steps fall short, if people's hearts are steeped in darkness.
Liberty, peace, and love fall on deaf ears, if people are not geared in that direction. We need a radical sea change.
We need to do as Henry David Thoreau suggested: Strike the Root.
When the strike the root, everything falls in place.
Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, came and brought light and permanently changed reality 2000 years ago. He has changed the radically hearts and minds of some. And the Light of Jesus can still bright and probably brighter, if we are willing.
The problem is people have refused to embrace His Light and some has decided to run away from the Light into more darkness.
But we need the Light of Jesus more than ever. The life of the human race and the planet depends on it.
