Briefing: Early in my law enforcement career I worked midnights. One of the most important pieces of equipment, for an officer working nights, is a flashlight.

Dispatch (Assignment): Read John 1:1-34.

On the Street: The illustration of a flashlight in a dark warehouse is great for showing the meaning of light exposing darkness. One of the great truths to light is found in John 1:5 (NIV), “The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.”

In Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, he wrote, “know your enemy before going into battle. If you know your enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.” Jesus knows His enemy and understands him.

The darkness does not know the light, therefore you do not have to fear the darkness defeating the light. You can trust that if you have a working flashlight with good batteries, every time it comes on it will defeat darkness. You can be assured that when the sun comes up, night will flee. You can be absolute in knowledge and understanding that when the Light shines, darkness will never be able to overtake it. I don’t know about you, but I want to be on the winning team.

It is interesting that the English language uses the word “sun” for that big ball of fire in the sky. Without the sun there would be no life on this planet. It is more interesting that the English word for the male child of his father is called a son. Jesus is the Son of God. Without the Son (Jesus) there would be no life after death.

Life after death is found in Jesus Christ. Life after death without Jesus is called Hell, or the second death (Revelation 2:11). There is no light in Hell; just darkness.

“The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.” Proverbs 1:9 (NIV). Jesus comes and offers this gift of light to everyone. It is up to us to choose to accept His light or reject it. Are you in the true light? Is the true light in you?

Investigational Resources: For more information on light, see 1 Corinthians 4:3-5. To learn more about life after death, see Matthew 22:23-33, John 11:18-27, and Romans 6:23.

Officer Safety Principle: Is Jesus the light of your life?

from The Gospel of John Through the Eyes of a Cop
©by Charles Gilliland. Used by permission.
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