Jesus the Light for the pandemic

The Prime Minister of India has asked the 1.3 billion citizens of India to light candles & torch lights for 9 minutes at 9 pm on 5th April 2020 to “challenge the darkness spread by the corona crisis, introducing it to the power of light”. Unfortunately to experience “the superpower of light”, Indians have to do this at night and switch off the lights!

There is a greater light than the power of 1.3 billion candles and torch lights. Jesus was born “to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death” (Luke 1:79 KJV). God’s light is so powerful that in the new earth “they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light” (Rev 22:5 KJV). God already has a way of escape from diseases: “if you will diligently listen to the voice of the LORD your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, your healer” Exodus 15:26 (ESV). The way out of a plague is by making God our dwelling place: “because you have made the LORD your dwelling place … no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent” Psalm 91:9-10 (ESV).

Many Indians have dismissed this event as a gimmick but every day we are bombarded by subtle forms of “light”. Movies, music, books, fashion, gossip, advertisements, products, internet, alcohol, drugs, etc compete to light up the darkness in our lives. Millions of people try to light up their lives by such “lights” but are condemned because Jesus said “this is the condemnation, that the light is come into the world, and men loved darkness more than the light because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19). Jesus warned “be careful that the light in you isn’t darkness” (Luke 11:35 ISV). We have to choose what will light up our lives. Jesus said “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12 ESV). Choose to turn your eyes away from the world and it’s darkness and turn it instead upon Jesus and you will have eternal life and shine with His light and become the light of the world (Matt 5:14).