This post was last updated on May 21, 2026
Day 47 (Year 2)
Is the Jesus You Believe in Dim or Glorious?
“For God, who said, ‘Light shall shine out of darkness,’ is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:6 NASB)
People can experience Jesus in many different ways. In places where idol worship is common, such as in parts of Hong Kong, Jesus may be treated like just another idol to be displayed or seasonally revered. Yet an idolized Jesus rarely intervenes in personal affairs. At the same time, for some people, the Jesus they believe in is dim, because He is confined to a dark corner of their hearts. In contrast, today’s scripture tells us that only when the light of God shines in a person’s heart can one truly perceive the glorious Jesus.
Believers must first face the darkness within and pray for God’s light to shine into our hearts. Only then will faith in Jesus bring real transformation in us. Inner darkness is often the very place people least want to confront, but try to escape it as much as possible. Wherever people avoid facing problems, darkness often remains. Instead, believers should ask for God’s light to enter those areas, so we can courageously confront our problems and the darkness within. This darkness includes some shameful or embarrassing matters, past failures, painful memories, and wounds that we want to hide. Conversely, we should pray for God’s light to shine on each of these areas one by one.
The “heart” mentioned in the verse is the place where we can really perceive the glory of Jesus. From a sinner’s perspective, reading the Gospels may reveal a seemingly ordinary and even vulnerable Jesus. Yet when believers pay attention to His miracles, we see an extraordinary and powerful Lord. The Apostle Paul encountered the risen and glorified Jesus and experienced His supreme wisdom, power, and radiance. Likewise, we must open our hearts and allow God’s light to shine, so that we may truly recognize and trust in the glorious Jesus.
Many people come to know the glory of Jesus, yet some return to the darkness in their hearts and drift away from the glorious Lord. This might be due to a counterattack from darkness resisting the reign of the glorious Christ. Thus, believers must continually seek God’s illumination to deal thoroughly with areas of shame, failure, and hurt. If our hearts are deprived of God’s light, Jesus will not be able to reveal His greatness continually in our lives. A dim Jesus within cannot save. Instead, as we keep on receiving more of God’s light and allow the glory of Jesus to shine more brightly within us, we will continue to receive His grace, experience His salvation, and enjoy the fullness of His gospel.
Reflection questions:
1) Do you have the courage to rely on the Lord Jesus to face areas of shame, failure, or hurt in your life? If you feel lacking, what do you need to ask of Him?
2) Have you moved beyond treating Jesus Christ as an idol? If so, what does He desire to accomplish in your life right now?