How Can I See Through Dirty Glasses?

A week ago I was sitting in a vehicle with the bright sunlight streaming in past my face. I was facing away from the light so it was showing me how dirty my glasses were. And I wondered to myself, “How can I even see through all this dirt? And how did they get so dirty without me noticing it? I came to the conclusion that it happened so subtly that I got used to each layer of dust and dirt and didn't realize the dirty condition of my glasses. And a light bulb went off in my mind! It took the light to show me how dirty my glasses were and it takes the light of Jesus to show us our sinful hearts. Just as we have to clean our glasses to see better, we must confess our sins to have a clean heart. I John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

This is how sin sneaks up on us, just a little here and a little there and then, wham! It hits us that we have fallen into sin. But I have good news! Jesus came to earth to be the Light of the World. In John 8:12, Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Daniel 2:22 tells us, “He reveals deep hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.” Once we see our sinful hearts there is no need for despair. In I John 1:9 we read, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

We have many scriptures that give us promises if we walk in light:

I John 1:5, “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”

I John 1:7, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”

Psalm 18:28, “For it is you who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness.”

In Acts 26:18, Saul was sent to preach so that the people would, “open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”

In Isaiah 42, we have this prophetic promise: vs6. “I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you”; vs 16, “I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them.”

As we are in the beginning of the Advent season our hearts and minds go to the Christmas story and the coming of Jesus as a baby into our sinful world. During this time of year we have many lights: candles, stars, Christmas lights on our tree, perhaps on our mantle, and outside decorations. Lets be reminded of the true Light, Jesus. He is the reason for the season, He is our Light.

John 12:46, “I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.”