Getting Good

John 3:19-21 - And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

Do you have any bad habits? Is there anything you do you know you should stop? If so, you are not alone. Here at the end of one of the most famous conversations in history, Jesus gives some insight into why many people do bad things and what it takes do good.

During a night visit in Jerusalem with the Jewish leader Nicodemus, Jesus explained that we must be “born again” by water and the Spirit to enter the Kingdom of God. He also uttered those powerful and often repeated words of verse 16 expressing God’s love for the world in offering his only begotten Son so that “whoever believes in him may not perish but have everlasting life.” Jesus did not come to the world to condemn the world but to save it (vs 17). So, salvation is available because of Jesus. Everyone who believes in him is assured of not going to Hell but spending eternity with God in Heaven. So why doesn’t everyone do this?

The answer is in verse 19: People love the darkness. Their deeds are evil, and they know it, but they do not want to stop. If they come to the light of Jesus, they know they will need to change. It isn’t that God can’t or won’t forgive them. Jesus already explained he came to save us from our sin, and believing in him is all we need to do.

Some of us may see the destructiveness in our evil behavior yet still be unwilling to surrender. Like the alcoholic who lost his driver’s license, then his job, then his family who is still not willing to get help to stop drinking, it may be tempting to stay hiding in the darkness with our evil deeds and outcome, but is that really want we want?

Jesus wraps it up in verse 21 with words of incredible hope. Those who come to the light can do what is true and good because they do it “in God.” This means what we cannot do by ourselves, we can accomplish as we allow God to work through us. Life controlling addictions lose their power. Despair becomes hope. Uncontrolled rage becomes joyful love. This all happens when we come to Jesus in faith and willingly let go of our hidden junk. Let him work in you. It is much better in the light.