Once upon a time there were three lights glowing brightly in the darkness. All three of the lights each had a message to give to the world. So one day they summoned all the people of the earth before them so that they could make their case.
"I am the Light of Human wisdom," the first light said. "I give quick solutions to all your problems. I also give you the power to solve the problems of others. You need no other light than me. I will make you great before men, so that your wisdom will be praised by them. This I will do this for you, if you will only follow me."
Some of the people of the world liked what the Light of Human Wisdom had said and followed it. The light burned for a very long time, but it finally ran out of fuel, died away, and was no more, leaving its followers foolish and groping in the darkness.
"I am the Light of Human Knowledge," the second light said, "and knowledge is power. You need no other light. I will give you power so great that all men will look to you in envy, if you will only follow me.
Some of the people of the world liked what the Light of Human Knowledge had promised them, so they followed it. The light burned for a very long time, but finally it ran out of fuel, died away, and was no more, leaving its followers powerless and in darkness.
"I am the Light of the World," the third Light said. "I do not depend on human wisdom nor on human knowledge for my fuel because I am wisdom and I am knowledge. I burn with the truth, and the well of my fuel is endless because it is filled by my Father who is forever. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will always have me to light his way to the Father in Heaven. Because of my mercy you will have knowledge and you will have wisdom, but not of this earth. And through me, your own light will never be extinguished."
And those who followed the Light of the World found that it was both telling the truth and that it really would never die. And the Light, and its followers, shined brightly forever.
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said,
"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12 NIV)
* * *
Copyright 2000 by Ed Price