LIGHT PEIRCING THE DARKNESS

I’d never experienced total darkness until I worked at Lewis and Clark Cavern in MT as a tour guide.

The parts of the cave where we took tourists were well lit so that we could see the beauty of the stalactite and stalagmite formations. However, there was one place in the deepest part of the tour where we shut off all the lights so that the people could experience what total darkness was like. It was eery and you could put your hand an inch in front of your face and see nothing.

Often you would here someone say... , “O my God, it is dark.” It wasn’t profanity; it was more like a prayer. The Hebrew word for darkness means more than the absence of light. It means, “O my God, it is dark.”

Some of the more adventurous employees went spelunking in the undeveloped areas of the cave on our days off. Once was enough for me. The darkness of the cave brought a certain gloom as we groped like blind men along the walls of the cave grasping for something to hold on to. Sometimes we had to crawl along the floor only being able to see a foot or two in front of us. But even the smallest of light in that deep darkness made a huge difference. It gave us hope and something to hold on to. The light kept our path safe until we found our way back to the cave entrance.

The ambient glow of night lights, street or yard lights, neon signs and cell phones, whether you live in the country or the city make it hard to imagine nightfall in the ancient world of the Bible, where people couldn’t see anything at all. In the cave was the first time for myself and many to experience the total absence of light. Believe me if you have never experienced it, utter darkness is most definitely not a place any of us want to stay, especially for eternity. All I know is that God is light and there is a place called outer darkness. He must not be there since there is an absence of light. It is definitely not a place I want to experience.

“This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5)

Jesus says that he is the Light of the World. He himself is beyond our seeing, but in the darkness where we stand, thanks to him, we see something of the glorious path that is set before us. Even when we can hardly believe this is the right path, because the world says it is foolishness, we have what it takes to go there, because the light is shining from within us.

I am reminded that His Word is a lamp to see our way through a very dark world. "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105 ESV

Does it seem like a heavy dark cloud of gloom and doom has fallen on us in America?

Is it starting to feel like we are oppressed and lost?

Does it feel like we are groping in the dark?

It feels a bit like that for me and many others right now too.

This gloom and division has create fear for the future. It has gripped many and caused them to behave in undesirable ways they never dreamed they would have responded.

I know that times have been hard before and they could even possibly be worse in the future. But I’m looking for a little glimmer of light and hope in this darkness as the year draws to an end.

How about you?

I believe you can't kill hope!!!

Romans 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Even though there is still much darkness and evil in the world, if we have eyes to see the light of love, joy, and peace which are shining more powerful than the darkness we won't loose hope.

When we fail to be light, darkness seems to rule. One little light can pierce the darkness. It cuts through it as if it’s nothing! No one has ever invented a beam of darkness to cut through light. It can’t happen. So let your light shine and overpower the darkness.

Jesus — the Light of the world — has overcome the darkness completely and fully. And He lives in you as a believer.

Remember The light took on flesh.

John 1: 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overpower (overcome/comprehend) it.

Darkness is nothing to fear when you have light! Darkness only takes over because something is blocking the light. Lies block the truth. The enemy tries to block the light with lies. Don't let Him.

In Christ, you were created to pierce the darkness.

Matthew 5:14–16 NRSV You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

As I write this post we are in the waning days of 2021, surrounded by a world of darkness and yet God says we have light. We have the light of life and we are to shine it bright. We are encircled by, and enfolded in, Jesus–a living beacon the darkness can never extinguish.

I don’t know about you, but to me that comes as very good news.