For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. John 3:20-21
Jesus here identifies two classes of people; those that ‘doeth evil’ and those that ‘doeth truth’. These two classes are distinguished by whether or not they approach the light.
The light is none other than the gospel of Christ. Paul describes it as ‘the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ’ (2 Corinthians 4:6). No man has perfect knowledge of truth, and no man has a perfect character. But the first step in becoming a man that ‘doeth truth’ is in acknowledging your own sinfulness. ‘Only acknowledge thine iniquity,’ saith the Lord, ‘that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God’ (Jeremiah 3:13).
As the sincere soul recognises his need and embraces the gospel message, the healing beams of the Sun of Righteousness cleanse his heart. As he walks in this light, his deeds reveal to those around him the inward working of Christ, who wrought out a perfect character on Earth.
But the gospel message troubles the one that doeth evil. The bleeding Victim on calvary reproves him and his evil deeds. Rather than allowing himself to be healed by the piercing beams, he shuts them out of his soul. He refuses Heaven’s entreaty to ‘acknowledge thine iniquity’, seeking to continue undisturbed in his sins.
All come from different religious upbringings. Some are born into gross darkness, while others inherit the blessing of a Christian home. But such circumstances will not dictate the class we number among, for God makes new light available to every soul, from the most ignorant to the most learned. By the testing truths of these last days, God will make it manifest who it is that doeth truth, and who doeth evil.
Christopher Sparks