“And this is the condemnation, that light is come unto the world, and men loved darkness more than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19). This does not assert that unbelief will be the cause of the condemnation of sinners. Its meaning is that the proof of men’s being in such a state as to deserve condemnation, is that they love darkness rather than light. “This love of darkness and the condemnation entailed upon it are not created, but proved and confirmed by the light that is come; the light being not the cause, but the test of character. This is true, whether the child of light, who cometh to the light for a manifestation of his real state; or of the child of darkness, who evades the light because he loves darkness, and hates the detection of his evil deeds, by the light of truth.
This may be thus illustrated. A family man, taking a light, goes round the house to see how things are as a last thing at night. Into the room where his boys are in bed, all wakeful, he holds up the light and reads with pleasure in their eyes his own dear children. They too, with pleasure, behold their loving parent, and all is well. But hearing a noise he proceeds to another room, where some thieves are at work. They at first try to put out the light, but failing in the attempt, retreat by the window to escape the light, loving darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil. Now the light in the man’s hand makes neither children nor thieves, but shows up both in true character. From this illustration the Lord’s meaning is plain.”—John Foreman.
