John 3:20-21 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
Its presence makes manifest and reproves his works, which he would hide even from himself. It illumines the dark and secret chambers of the heart, and reveals thoughts and deeds which conscience, seeing in this light, trembles at, and turns away to darkness that it may hide itself from its own gaze. (Ellicott)
“Be it therefore known to you all, I faithfully warn you, that if you reject it, it is at the peril of your souls.” (Benson)
“Hates the light” – This is true of all wicked men. They choose to practice their deeds of wickedness in darkness.
His deeds should be reproved – To “reprove” here means not only to “detect” or make manifest, but also includes the idea of “condemnation” when his deeds are detected. The gospel would make his wickedness manifest, and his conscience would condemn him. God’s Word convicts them of sin in order that it may afford consolation. The reason why the gospel, is hated is that men are sinners. “Christ is hated because sin is loved.” The sinner must be convicted or convinced of sin. If it be not in this world, it will be in the next. There is no escape for him; and the only way to avoid condemnation in the world to come is to come humbly and acknowledge sin here, and seek for pardon. (Barnes)
Every man, the series of whose life and conversation is evil, hates Christ and his Gospel, cause they make manifest his evil deeds, convict him of them, and rebuke him for them: neither cometh to the light; to hear Christ preach, or preached; to attend on the Gospel ministration and means of grace: lest his deeds should be reproved; or discovered, and made manifest, and he be brought to shame, and laid under blame, and advised to part with them, which he cares not to do (Gill)
When I read this passage it indicates that a person chooses to conduct sin in the dark. In the past, the culture of the United States would be a continual reminder of what is, for the most part, considered morally right, true, and good. There would be repeated warnings, howbeit ever so softly, of things that are wrong in the sight of God and man. This would be in a time when God was acknowledged as the true judge of right and wrong so they would choose to deny it and conduct their sinful acts in the dark and be unknown by others which would, if seen or known, would convict their conscience of their acts. Their conscience would also need to be shut down because they would know what they are doing is wrong. Great revivals took place when God’s Word was loosed afresh and proclaimed. Hearts and minds were convicted, not by society, but by the living Word of God who sees all and will judge all of what is done in the flesh.
Let’s jump forward to the present day of the United States. Acts that would only be conducted in the dark are proudly, boastfully, and without shame conducted in the light. These acts give rise to a total disregard toward God, the Word of God, and the Light of the Gospel. There was a time not too far ago in the past when pornography was considered perverted. Abortion was considered the killing of a life. LGBTQ was considered vile and only a deviant person would think it is alright.
See 2 Timothy 3:1-5 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
It does not take much foresight to understand this verse in context with today’s culture. “In the last days” tells us what to expect, what will be seen, what people will be like, and what ushers in the return of Jesus Christ.
Pornography is considered “Adult Entertainment”.
Abortion is considered “Women’s Rights”.
LGBQT is considered an “Alternative Lifestyle”.
Lawlessness is considered “Justified”.
History is considered “Offensive”.
God is considered a “Myth”.
There are other signs too!
Mark 13:7-8 And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.
Ezekiel 7:24-26 I will bring the worst of the nations to take possession of their houses. I will put an end to the pride of the strong, and their holy places shall be profaned. When anguish comes, they will seek peace, but there shall be none. Disaster comes upon disaster; rumor follows rumor. They seek a vision from the prophet, while the law perishes from the priest and counsel from the elders.
Jeremiah 8:15-16 We looked for peace, but no good came; for a time of healing, but behold, terror.
Jeremiah 4:19-22 My anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain! Oh the walls of my heart! My heart is beating wildly; I cannot keep silent, for I hear the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.
Ezekiel 21:27 A ruin, ruin, ruin I will make it. This also shall not be, until he comes, the one to whom judgment belongs, and I will give it to him.
Zechariah 14:2-3 For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken and the houses plundered and the women raped. Half of the city shall go out into exile, but the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
Isaiah 24:19-23 The earth is utterly broken, the earth is split apart, the earth is violently shaken. The earth staggers like a drunken man; it sways like a hut; its transgression lies heavy upon it, and it falls, and will not rise again.
Luke 21:25-26 “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
Jeremiah 47:6 Ah, sword of the LORD! How long till you are quiet?
1 Peter 4:17-18 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”
1 Thessalonians 5:3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
It does not take much discernment to see the signs of the times we are living in. When our eyes should be focused on Jesus Christ and anticipation of His return the busyness of life is consuming us, the next sporting event, the next movie, the next election, the next news report, the next TV series, the next internet post, the next raise, the next job, the next vacation, the next new thing or activity, the next……..
There is much to take our focus away from Jesus if we neglect His Word, become complacent, have an undiscerned love of this world and what it has to offer and live lukewarmly towards our purpose of honoring and glorifying Jesus Christ in all of our thoughts, words, and actions.
Look up, Jesus is coming.
