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My dad and I went on a tour into a deep cave. At the deepest point, the guide had all the lights extinguished. And it was DARK! The dark pressed in and felt like a presence I could touch. The dark even extinguished noise. People whispered, and then fell silent. It was harder to keep my balance. People held on to each other. When the tour director struck a match, the small light changed everything. There was a collective sigh of relief. People started talking. That was many years ago and I can still feel the overwhelming realization of the oppression of darkness and light’s impact.
Darkness
I don’t need to talk about the darkness in our world right now. You see it too, I know.
Those who walk in darkness have rejected Jesus Christ. They didn’t comprehend the light (John 1:5) and they love darkness rather than light, for their deeds are evil (John 3:19). They don’t come to the light lest their deeds be exposed (John 3:20).
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. (John 3:19)
As we get closer and closer to the end, evil will increase. (2 Timothy 3:13)
Light
God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5)
Jesus again spoke to them, saving, “I am the Light of the world, he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” (John 8:12)
Light: A Gift
We* all once walked in darkness (Ephesians 2:1-3), but when we believed in Jesus Christ, we were transferred out of the kingdom of darkness and into the kingdom of Christ. (Colossians 1:13)
I have come as Light into the world so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness. (John 12:46)
Those who believe in Jesus Christ, the Light of the world, have become light in the Lord. (Ephesians 5:8)
Light: A Responsibility
Now that we are light in the Lord, we are to walk as children of Light. (Ephesians 5:8)
Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)
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God–Father, Son, Holy Spirit–thank You for your unfathomable gift of rescuing us from darkness and transferring us to the kingdom of Jesus Christ. Thank You that we are now light in the Lord. Help us to live in Your Light, shining out into the darkness, that people may come to know You and that You may be glorified.
*”We” means those who believe/trust in Jesus Christ and have received Him as Lord and Savior.
