In Light of His First Coming

      In the first chapter of his gospel, the apostle John set the stage for our Lord’s first coming. “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (v. 4-5). That statement highlights the cosmic battle between God and evil. Verse 5 literally reads, “And the Light keeps on shining in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it or understood it.”
       This is why God’s ways are foolishness to mankind (1 Cor. 2:14; 3:19). This is why mankind insists on interpreting spiritual truth through earthly logic, according to natural laws instead of the spiritual laws of Heaven. This is why science can’t prove that God exists because it is based on natural hypotheses only. It cannot measure intangible spiritual truths.
         John calls Jesus is the Word of God. That Word became flesh and dwelt among us so that mankind could see God’s nature and glory and power. But more importantly, we could experience His grace and truth.
       Our Lord’s first coming gave us the right to become God’s children to as many as would receive Him. The Greek word for “right” here is exousia (ex-oo-see’ah). It means ability, privilege, freedom, power, capacity, and force. That force was God’s loving and just nature. Every born-again believer was not born into His Kingdom of Light by blood or man’s flesh, but of God.
          When Solomon finished building the temple he wondered, “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built!” (1 Kings 8:27). Exodus 40:34 answered the king’s question, recording that God’s glory did fill the temple. Unfortunately, the glory eventually left because of the people’s disobedience. But with our Lord’s first coming, that glory came to the earth again.
         The Chronos Lesson: Even more astonishing, however, is that the glory was poured out into mankind at Pentecost, filling born-again believers with God’s Holy Spirit! It is the Spirit who empowers us to overcome the evil and lawlessness of these last Days. It is the Spirit that plants the seeds of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in us so that those in darkness can see the fruit of God’s work in our lives.
           It is the Spirit that reveals the truths of God’s Word at work in us. When we understand His Word, we can understand God’s plans. When we are willing to let go of our preconceived ideas and the wisdom of man, and allow the Spirit to make the scriptural connections for us, we can understand God’s times and seasons. Then and only then can we have the comfort, hope, and victory that empower us to be His witness and be a light to this generation.   
       This is one way we can prepare the way for our Lord's second coming at the appointed time.