One of the most well-loved verses in the Bible is Jesus’ statement in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
However, immediately after highlighting the love of God, Jesus proceeded to talk about the judgment of God and why it was coming: “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil” (John 3:19). Jesus had already been identified as the “Light” (John 1:7, 9). His arrival brought light and hope but also judgment against those who responded negatively to His coming.
The reason why people “[do] not come to the Light” is because they practice what is “evil” and do not want their deeds to be “exposed” (John 3:20). Yet Jesus said, “But he who practices truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God” (John 3:21). In other words, those who come to Him will be recognized as doing God’s work, which will bring a reward.
So we must come to the Light. Rather than hiding from Him in our sin, we must give up the deeds of darkness. We then must practice the truth as it brings us to Him and the blessings He offers.