Come to the Light

Key Text: John 12:46

“I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.”

I always find it interesting that around Easter each year the movers and shakers in the world of popular media – especially television – seem to go on a religious kick of sorts.

By that, I don’t mean that all of a sudden the media moguls start making prime time confessions of faith, far from it.  In fact, often it seems they are all about doing things to call traditional faith into question.  Suddenly there are specials about the “mysteries” of various religious faiths; explorations into questions of the “afterlife” and whether or not it is real.

There are also those who insist on wheeling out the “oldies but goodies” – like classic films depicting the life of Moses or Ben Hur or Jesus.

And then there are the new upstarts who produce mega-buck epic films, like the recently aired “A.D.” miniseries.

Again, I don’t think it is all about bringing people to a relationship with Christ.  In many cases, it may be primarily about money.  “It’s Easter…let’s cash in on religion!”

Hopefully, the “A.D.” miniseries is at heart an honest attempt to get people thinking about the life of Christ in a thoughtful, perhaps life changing way.  Time will tell.

As for the rest of the media blitz – well, I am far less charitable about it.

Now, all this leads me to a suggestion.

If you want to get to know Jesus better – better yet, if you want to know the risen Christ better – let me suggest you open the Bible, open your heart, and ask for guidance.  Forget the New York Times best sellers on the afterlife; turn off the TV miniseries, or at least don’t take these offerings has the “final word” on who Christ is.

Seek Him yourself – in reading, in study, in prayer, in an open and listening spirit.

I believe if you do – the light will come on – literally.  I believe you will be led to know Christ in new and powerful ways.  And prime time TV won’t have much to do with it.

After all, that’s what He came to do: to bring others to the light.   But don’t take my word for it – take His:

“I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.”