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Parable Of The Charitable Power Plant
Unlike salvation, we can generate electric light by our own works. If you ever rode a bike with a wheel generated light, you recall how that worked: stand still, no light – pedal hard, got light. That light was powered by your own works.
But I doubt that any of us choose to light our home by the same technique. Unless we are Amish, we trust a power plant for our electricity. And with a flip of a switch, presto, we have light. But the electric company is a business. And we have to foot the bill.
Well, what follows is a parable of a charitable power plant.
There once was charitable power company. Out of mercy for a people in great darkness, it decided to give away free power. At much cost and sacrifice, it built a grand power plant, ran lines, and made free power available to the people in darkness. Here is the story of 5 of those people.
A certain man had long sat in darkness. But he was a crooked man with evil intent, and he hated the light. He preferred darkness, so of course that’s where he remained. [cf. Jn.3.19-20]
Another man had long sat in darkness. And he was eager for light when he heard it was free. But he refused to turn on the switch. “If it’s a gift, I shouldn’t have to do a thing” he said. “I needn’t earn it.” He simply cried: “I receive this light as my personal illuminator.”
He too, remained in darkness. [cf. Lk.6.46]
Another man had long sat in darkness, and longed for light. But upon contemplatinghis various responsibilities as switch flipper, bulb maintainer, bulb torque checker, andcord plug in maker-surer … he became rather impressed with himself, and forgot where the power came from. He began to belittle the plant, and to boast of his might – and the power company cut off his power. He too remained in darkness. [Rom.9.32]
Another man had long sat in darkness. He was excited about the offer, and he flipped the switch, but found the light too bright for his taste. He praised the light with his words, but snuck off back into the darkness. And that’s where he remained. [1Jn.1.6]
Another man had long sat in darkness. He longed for light, and decided to turn from his darkness. He trusted in the power plant. He turned on the switch. And there was light. He loved the light. And he walked in the light. He did not remain in darkness. [1Jn.1.7]
-Scott Smelser
Joh 3:19-20 NASB “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. (20) “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
Luk 6:46 NASB “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?
Rom 9:32 NASB Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone,
1Jo 1:6 NASB If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;
1Jo 1:7 NASB but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
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