Following the Light

 "Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12)

My oldest daughter Shiloh loves a good story. While we sat in a parking lot eating our subway sandwich as family radio buzzed in the background, she began sharing interesting facts about the story of the Titanic tragedy.  It was very fascinating. I learned quite a lot about a story in history that I didn't really know much more about then what I’ve seen in the motion picture movie. It got me thinking about other stories of recent history that fascinated me.

I immediately thought of the Jonestown massacre. We pulled out of the parking lot and on our 30 minute route home, I told the story of Jim Jones and how he amassed a following of hopeful believers that followed him to establish a utopian- like settlement in Guyana. 

Later that evening, I began an obsessive search of survivor stories, facts, and first hand accounts of all that happened leading up to that fateful day.  On November 18 1978 over 900 men, women, and children died by either voluntary or forced ingestion of grape flavor-aid, laced with poison. Many of them had been with the religious group for years and were used to trusting their charismatic leader. They followed him, because they believed that it would lead to a better life. Instead, many of died unwillingly at the hands of a person they trusted and followed. How could so many people be led away? 

There are lots of reasons why they chose to follow him. Regardless of those perhaps very legitimate reasons, I'm so thankful for the promise that Jesus gave that if we follow Him, we will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life. After I told my girls the story, I emphasized how important it is to follow the words of Jesus alone. To study the Bible themselves and have a true and deep understanding of Jesus. Guru's, spiritual teachers, religious leaders all have something meaningful to say.  Sometimes certain aspects of truth are sprinkled in with certain ideas that are off base. For example, Jim Jones actually did quite a bit to further racial integration and racial equality in his home town in Indiana. However, at the end of the day, I choose to place my whole trust and confidence in one person. That person is Christ Jesus. 

My choice is to follow Jesus. Day by day moment by moment, keeping my eyes on Him. His counsel, His ways. There are so many distractions. For me it's the distractions that happen within myself, anxiety, worry, concern etc. Those distractions can shift my focus on my problems instead of what God has said He's able to do for me.  So, my choice is to follow light.