Terrified standing openly in the light glorifying God. Why!?
You can be saved only by coming to the light—Jesus, but he exposes everything. Be prepared to sacrifice your pride, fears, and the world to follow God.
Firstly, I delight in getting up daily to do things for the Most High. It truly delights me to work and see the progress of my efforts for the kingdom of God. The way I work in the world, having key performance indicators (KPI) and the eternal quest for productivity, I applied that mindset to my work for God. I have put myself out there for the world to judge; indeed, they have, and I am still standing.
What prompted me to write this post was to answer why so many people claim to love God but are afraid to openly glorify and work for him in the world.
37. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
38. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
Don't they know the more workers, the more impact? The same way they take confidence from my efforts, the same way others will take confidence from theirs. Why the fear of standing up in the piercing eyes of the world if they believe in the hearts what they speak with their mouths?
The Darkness hates the Light
I came across this passage in the book of John that is normally obscured by the famous John 3:16 which has been rebranded with Christianity's interpretation. However, I want to focus mainly on John 3:19-21 which I believe answers the question I sought.
16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Jesus came into the world not to condemn it but to save it. Those who want to be saved must come to Jesus; since Jesus is the light of the world, everyone who comes to him deeds will be exposed. His light will shine and reveal everything, be it good or evil; therefore, those who do evil will not come to Jesus—the morning star, because the evil they do will be uncovered.
Here is a significant dilemma. The only way to be saved is to come into the light but coming into the light reveals everything. Therefore, only those willing to abandon their evil will come to Jesus and be his disciple. The people who are afraid to stand in the world's view and those who refuse to let go of the world and the evil that abides in it.
Conclusion
The words of Jesus cut to the heart and, despite their simplicity, are profound beyond belief. He speaks with such power and beauty that I stand in awe always and delight when reading his words. He gives me confidence, and despite the many efforts of the world, I am still standing. I can say with certainty that this world has tried to take me down and is relentlessly trying to cut Jacob's legs from underneath him. Nevertheless, I assure you, this will never happen because there is a God who keeps his promises.
The light is only for those with nothing to hide and confident that their eyes are on Jesus. They are assured and eager to keep the commandments of God, willing to change at the drop of a dime to ensure they do everything pleasing to God. Never are they afraid that the light will expose who they are because they know who they serve; they are confident that they are walking the path and living upright for God. They will face head on their past mistakes and maintain their confidence and determination to serve the God of heaven.
Those who come into the light will have all their deeds exposed, but only those who go into the light will be saved.
The real relatives of God have nothing to hide.