Today’s Scripture: John 12:36-43
36 "Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light." When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them. (NIV)
Today’s passage from John is the last time that Jesus appears in public before his crucifixion. It is his last sermon before a crowd. He tells the crowd to believe in the light “while you have the light”. He encourages them to live as children of the light. John adds that though many had seen the miracles performed by Jesus, few believed and many were skeptical.
My focus today is on Jesus’ words to the crowd. He frequently chose the image of a child to illustrate a point. I think it is no accident that he returned to the reference in his last public appearance. Children believe what they are told. They believe what they see and they believe what they feel. As adults, we’ve been known to take advantage of those traits.
When my own children were young, I was not above a playful trick or teasing when it came to their gullible sense of trust. Now that they are older, they’ve developed a healthy sense of skepticism. I’ve come to regret the loss of that innocence. They are growing into smart, savvy adults. Their trust is no longer given freely.
John’s message to us is the same one that I now send to my children. Approach God with the trust and innocence you had as a child. Set aside fear and skepticism. Do this and God will become a light in your life and in the lives of those around you.