John 3:19-20 (ESV)

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed..

I have a good friend who shares the gospel by telling the story of his life’s “World Premiere” at the local movie theater. One day the marquee reads: Jim’s Sin Highlights on the Big Screen Tonight! 7pm.  Can you imagine? All of your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, schoolmates…they all get a ticket…and you are forced to attend. Known sins, and secret sins. Nothing held back. Clearly an R-rating. How would that make you feel? What would that do to your relationships? Your reputation? Your life?

Most people will respond negatively to the Gospel because of today’s passage. In fact, most people will respond negatively to biblical truth for the very same reason—because it cuts against their lifestyle and beliefs. The most quoted verse by non-Christians has got to be, “Judge not lest ye be judged”. Nobody wants to sit under the white-hot spotlight of judgment and be declared “Guilty!” Charles Spurgeon put it this way:

“The dislike of Christ is caused by a love of sin. If men did not hug their sins, they would embrace the Savior. You see why men do not come to Christ; they do not want to give up their sin; they do not want to be made uneasy in it; they are afraid of being reproved.”

Exactly. There is a false sense of security in the darkness where your sins are mostly OK, and you can go about your business as if there is nobody watching who will judge you. A wide-open highway with no police presence at all. Put the pedal to the metal and have a blast. Sleep around. Watch porn. Be a glutton. Change your gender. Cheat on your taxes. Lie like a rug. Hold a grudge. Speak your mind. Fudge the numbers. Puff yourself up and put others down. Be stingy. Be petty. Spread gossip. Pad your resumé and your expense report. Get an abortion or pay for one. Judge people harshly. The list goes on and on and as long as you stay in the dark, everything will be fine, right?

Wrong.

Back to my friend Jim’s big movie night. He sits down front and center surrounded by his wife, kids, parents, friends, and co-workers. The lights go down and the screen illuminates. He’s sweating bullets and wants to throw up when someone behind him taps him on the shoulder. He turns around and it’s Jesus. “Don’t worry, Jim. I erased the tape.” Now, back to what Charles Spurgeon said about today’s passage and we’ll be done:

“You see why saintly men do come to Christ, for they take a delight in beholding him, and in having their faith and their grace made manifest, both to themselves and to onlookers….Those who love their sins cannot at the same time love the Savior; they must love the one, and hate the other; and it is a terrible choice when they deliberately reject the only Savior; ‘the Light of the world,’ and choose the darkness of sin, the darkness of woe, the outer darkness, where there shall be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth.”