A LIGHT IN THE DARK - Thy Kingdom Come - 2007
by Nell Stevenson
Writer's preamble: As I write these letters I marvel at the
precision of each word in the Bible; the accuracy of meaning and
consistency throughout along with every nuance. All the words
that seem so different end up converging into the same truth.
Amazing. Still, "Every word of God is flawless" (Prov.30:5).
It is rare to experience real darkness these days with light
emitting from high rise buildings, streetlights and vehicles both
day and night.
The "blackout" of August 2003 surely proved our dependence
on light.
When the power went out in a large area of Ontario that day,
much of the population had their first experience of total
darkness; no houses or streets or landscape to be seen; just a
huge expanse of black. Only the flicker of candlelight or the
beam of a flashlight broke the darkness.
The light did not diminish the blackness; nor did it blend
in with it. The light opposed the dark without compromise. It
stood out as a brilliant contrast against the dark just as a
beacon from a lighthouse that is a sailor's salvation on a black
sea. It isn't hard to imagine groping around in the dark with no
light to indicate our physical surroundings. In darkness we have
no direction and no anchor. Just as the sailor we long for some
flicker of light to give us our bearings.
This picture can also be applied to the spiritual life of
individuals and of the "world". The absence of light translates
directly into confusion and an absence of direction and purpose.
We are essentially in darkness in our world today with no
definite answers or standards and the rules can change without
notice. We may grasp onto something for a time only to be
disappointed. We live a shallow life with a pervading sense of
insecurity and instability.
In both the physical and piritual realm, light is an abso
necessity, but it is not always appreciated because its effect is
always to expose darkness. Turning on a light may expose a dirty
room that we would rather ignore. A well-lit alley may expose
unpleasant garbage and debris. In the same way a group of people
living as light true to Godly standards may expose some of the
corruption that is so blatant in the world around them and may
even incur its mockery. According to John 3:19 "This is the
verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness
instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does
evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear
that his deeds will be exposed."
Darkness in the spiritual sense as we have learned before
represents wickedness of the world and the god of this world,
Satan, who can masquerade as an angel of light to deceive God's
people. Light is light and darkness is darkness. Light represents
the righteousness of Christ. "God is light; in Him is no darkness
at all" (I John 1:5). The importance of these words cannot be
overemphasized. "No darkness at all" means absolute purity and
goodness with not the minutest degree of wickedness and therefore
no capability for deception.
From Genesis to Revelation we find many incidents using
light to describe our Lord. 1n Psalm 27:1 King David declares
"the Lord is my light and my salvation." The glory of God that
shone on Moses' face after being in His presence will also
provide light in the Holy City; "the Lamb will be its lamp. The
nations will walk by its light" (Rev.21:23). The Evangelist Luke
tells us about Simeon, a just man of Israel who immediately
recognized Jesus as the long awaited Saviour and exclaimed, "mine
eyes have seen thy salvation ...A light to lighten the nations,
and the glory of thy people Israel" (Lk.2:30-32).
What does Christ mean in Matt.5:14 when He tells his
disciples, including all true Israel today, "You are the light of
the world"? From Ps. 4:19 we learn that "the way of wickedness is
as darkness." In Ephesus, Paul reminds the new believers that "ye
were sometime darkness (not in darkness); but now are ye light in
the Lord: walk as children of light" (Eph.5:8). This may help us
to understand that light and darkness cannot blend but always
remain totally separate. You were darkness; now you are light.
Once we have repented of our sins and accepted Christ into
our hearts, our destiny is to be light. "What do righteousness
and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship does light have
with darkness?" (2 Cor.6:14). There is a stark contrast. There is
no middle ground. We can't walk in darkness and light at the same
time any more than one can serve both God and Mammon. Come, 0
house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord" (Is. 2:5).
Our mandate is to be a light in the dark.
That light is Christ in us. He is our example of Light in
darkness. He knew that Satan is the god of this world yet didn't
get involved in the social system to change it. He remained
separate and glorified the Father in all that He did. Christ
simply led his life in obedience to the Father, teaching,
healing, preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom and speaking the
absolute truth to expose the unjust deeds of darkness. He was
Light and He was despised by many, but many also came to
recognize Him as the Messiah. As believers and "temples of the
living God" each one of us should be a light in the dark
displaying His light with justice, truth and honesty in a world
of corruption lies and deceit. "Let your light so shine before
men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in
heaven" (Mat.5:16).
..............
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