Divine Light

Humans have been searching for God and the truth about the Supreme Being throughout history. Their search has led them to develop many methods of reaching God and philosophies concerning the existence of the Divine.

But what is the truth about God? Has God ever given us light (revelation) concerning Himself? Will death allow us to see the Supreme Being?

These thoughts and desires are best embodied in an ancient Hindu mantra:
     Om Asatoma Sat Gamaya
     Om Tamasoma Jyoti Gamaya
     Om Mrthyoma Amritam Gamaya

Meaning:
     "Lead us from untruth to truth,
     Lead us from darkness to light,
     Lead us from death to immortality."

This prayer is from the Brihadaranyako Upanisad (a philosphical Hindu book), written about 800 B.C. The mantra expresses the desire and search of the Hindu sages and every God-conscious individual, throughout the ages.

What is untruth? Lies, deception, illusions, falsehood, ignorance... We all have embraced some level of untruth in our lives.

The Bible teaches that the truth of God was revealed to all people, but people were deceived into believing untruth.

"For since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without any excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened." (Romans 1:20-23)

This includes all of us.

Many saints and gurus have claimed to have the ability to lead us back to the truth concerning God.

However, there is one who appeared in the Middle East who claimed to be the embodiment of divine truth. Prabhu Yeshu -Lord Jesus. Jesus answered, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father (God) except through me." (John 14:6)

Jesus didn't just claim to be a good teacher of truth but Truth itself, who delivers us from illusions and deception - our Sanatan Sat Guru (Eternal and True Teacher).

What is darkness? Evil, disorder, sin, disobedience, selfishness, hate...

Devotee Paul says that we are all filled with darkness (sin).

"For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)

Sin is not the action as much as it is the inward nature of darkness and the potential to sin that exists in all humankind. Only the true light of God can purge this darkness of sin from us.

Sri Swami Sivananda says, "...The people of the modern world have the resplendent light of Lord Jesus' life and teachings illumining the path of righteousness, and yet, they wantonly walk the path of darkness, ignorance, sin, selfishness, sensuousness, and misery." (Lives of Saints)

Devotee Paul says again, "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ." (2 Corinthians 4:6)

Prabhu Yeshu himself said, "I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life." (John 8:12)

In the life of Christ we see the full revelation (light) of who God is, and that light is able to dispel the darkness of sin and evil.

What is mortality? Temporal existence, death...

The Bible says, "The wages of sin is death (spiritual separation from God) but the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ." (Romans 6:23)

Lord Jesus offers two types of life to us:
     * Eternal life - unceasing life with God, starting in this life, continuing after we die physically and lasting forever
     * Abundant life - overflowing and purposeful life Jesus said, "I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly." (John 10:10)

If I were driving to some foreign place that only one person has visited before, I would surely like that person to guide me there. Jesus is the only one who went into death and came out alive, never to die again. "Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures - he was buried - he was raised on the third day..." (1Corinthians 15:3-4)

"If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9)

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

If this is the desire of your heart then you can experience all this right now by faith through prayer. Prayer is simply talking with God.

Supreme Lord of the Universe, I desire to know the truth about you. I accept Prabhu Yeshu (Lord Jesus) as the full revelation of the Supreme Lord. I believe that Jesus Christ died and rose to life again. I now receive him as my only Lord and Saviour, the one who is able to deliver me from untruth, sin and death. Lord Jesus, come and fill my life with your light and your Holy Spirit. Take complete control of me and remove all untruth and darkness. I confess from today that you are the only Lord over my entire life. Amen.

Sit in a quiet place. Make yourself comfortable. Close your eyes. Inhale and exhale, slowly and deeply. Recite slowly and thoughtfully any of the following verses several times. Then talk to God, as to a friend, in the name of Jesus while remaining in this attitude of meditation. End by reciting the same verse a few more times.

"Supreme Lord, I seek you with all my heart.
Reveal yourself to me."

"I call on the name of the Lord
That I may receive liberation.
Yeshu, Yeshu, Yeshu."

"Lord Jesus you came to give abundant life.
Grant me this life."

"Yeshu Shanti ka Raja
Jesus king of peace,
Grant me your peace."

"Lord Jesus, King of love,
Fill me with your love!"

"Lord Jesus Christ,
Son of the living God,
Have mercy on me."

Written by:
Revd Reuben Soobrayan

Christ the Saviour - Anglican Church
POST: PO Box 1159, Lenasia, 1820, South Africa
EMAIL: soobrayan@eject.co.za
PHONE: +27 11 8549603

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