Life In The Darkness
Life in the Darkness
Johanna had lived her entire life in the dark cave, deep underneath the earth’s surface. She’d never seen light—not pure light, anyway. There were little glimmers of light that reached her here and there—a fish that glowed, a glimpse of the outside world if she wandered too close to the edge, and an occasional traveler with a headlamp.
Johanna, and the thousands of others who lived in the gigantic cave, passed their existence in darkness. They stumbled along, making their way as best as they could in the blackness, often falling to their deaths in huge drop-offs, getting bitten by poisonous creatures, or twisting an ankle on a rock - all because they couldn’t see. They daily walked right over incredible crystal formations and jewels, only they didn’t know it, because they couldn’t see them in the darkness. They remained oblivious to the breathtaking colors and dazzling designs.
As odd as it may sound, these people lived in the darkness by choice. I know that sounds crazy - who would choose to stumble in the fearful darkness? Who would choose not to see? And why would they choose that?
Well, although very few admitted this was the reason, the people chose the darkness because they didn’t want to see themselves as they really were. In the darkness, they’d convinced themselves they were clean and healthy, and they didn’t want to admit that wasn’t true.
Light showed them things as they really were. It showed them the dirt all over them. It showed them the dried-up blood covering their bodies, and puss oozing out of uncared for wounds. It revealed the sores and disease that ravaged their bodies. It showed them their mangled hair and weak eyes. In short, it showed them that they were a mess.
Had they only realized the healing and life that could be theirs if they were only willing to step into that light, they wouldn’t have hesitated for one moment. Had they only really understood that their present life in the dark cave ended only in death, they would have raced into the life the light offered to them. But instead, they refused, living in darkness - loving it actually - rather than in the light of life.
"Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” 1 John 8:12
The people of this world do not have the light of Jesus in their lives. They choose to live in the darkness, pretending everything in their lives is ok. In reality they are dirty and stained because of the sin in their lives. They are wounded and hurting, but in the darkness they pretend everything is ok.
And this is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and people 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, so that his deeds will not be exposed. 21 But the one who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds will be revealed as having been performed in God.” John 3:19-21
There are many people who reject Jesus as Savior because they believe He will make them change their lives. Or they believe they have to change in order to be acceptable to Him. The truth is, when a person comes to know God’s love in Christ change will happen. Not because a person is forced to change, but rather because they want to change. The Spirit of God living in a person moves them to become more than they ever thought they could be.
This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 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. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:5-9
There are also many people who deceive themselves into believing they really aren’t that bad. If God does exist, He will accept them because there are better than so many other people. It is easy for a person to self-justify by comparing themselves to other people.
This is a flawed way of viewing ourselves and God. The only One we can compare ourselves to is God. When we stand before Him, all that matters is that we are a reflection of His holiness. This can only happen for each of us as we receive the washing of the blood of Jesus which makes us clean and acceptable to our heavenly Father.
Light is an amazing thing. Without it, we don’t know how to walk safely…nor can we see the beauty surrounding us. Light shows things as they really are - it reveals the truth about ourselves and the world around us.
God is light and truth - and He reveals Himself in His Word, the Bible. Are we willing to let God show us the truth - even if it’s not initially pleasant? Are we in His Word? Are we letting His Word light are path?
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105
“for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light” Ephesians 5:8
Blessings this week!
Pastor Russ
Johanna had lived her entire life in the dark cave, deep underneath the earth’s surface. She’d never seen light—not pure light, anyway. There were little glimmers of light that reached her here and there—a fish that glowed, a glimpse of the outside world if she wandered too close to the edge, and an occasional traveler with a headlamp.
Johanna, and the thousands of others who lived in the gigantic cave, passed their existence in darkness. They stumbled along, making their way as best as they could in the blackness, often falling to their deaths in huge drop-offs, getting bitten by poisonous creatures, or twisting an ankle on a rock - all because they couldn’t see. They daily walked right over incredible crystal formations and jewels, only they didn’t know it, because they couldn’t see them in the darkness. They remained oblivious to the breathtaking colors and dazzling designs.
As odd as it may sound, these people lived in the darkness by choice. I know that sounds crazy - who would choose to stumble in the fearful darkness? Who would choose not to see? And why would they choose that?
Well, although very few admitted this was the reason, the people chose the darkness because they didn’t want to see themselves as they really were. In the darkness, they’d convinced themselves they were clean and healthy, and they didn’t want to admit that wasn’t true.
Light showed them things as they really were. It showed them the dirt all over them. It showed them the dried-up blood covering their bodies, and puss oozing out of uncared for wounds. It revealed the sores and disease that ravaged their bodies. It showed them their mangled hair and weak eyes. In short, it showed them that they were a mess.
Had they only realized the healing and life that could be theirs if they were only willing to step into that light, they wouldn’t have hesitated for one moment. Had they only really understood that their present life in the dark cave ended only in death, they would have raced into the life the light offered to them. But instead, they refused, living in darkness - loving it actually - rather than in the light of life.
"Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” 1 John 8:12
The people of this world do not have the light of Jesus in their lives. They choose to live in the darkness, pretending everything in their lives is ok. In reality they are dirty and stained because of the sin in their lives. They are wounded and hurting, but in the darkness they pretend everything is ok.
And this is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and people 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, so that his deeds will not be exposed. 21 But the one who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds will be revealed as having been performed in God.” John 3:19-21
There are many people who reject Jesus as Savior because they believe He will make them change their lives. Or they believe they have to change in order to be acceptable to Him. The truth is, when a person comes to know God’s love in Christ change will happen. Not because a person is forced to change, but rather because they want to change. The Spirit of God living in a person moves them to become more than they ever thought they could be.
This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 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. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:5-9
There are also many people who deceive themselves into believing they really aren’t that bad. If God does exist, He will accept them because there are better than so many other people. It is easy for a person to self-justify by comparing themselves to other people.
This is a flawed way of viewing ourselves and God. The only One we can compare ourselves to is God. When we stand before Him, all that matters is that we are a reflection of His holiness. This can only happen for each of us as we receive the washing of the blood of Jesus which makes us clean and acceptable to our heavenly Father.
Light is an amazing thing. Without it, we don’t know how to walk safely…nor can we see the beauty surrounding us. Light shows things as they really are - it reveals the truth about ourselves and the world around us.
God is light and truth - and He reveals Himself in His Word, the Bible. Are we willing to let God show us the truth - even if it’s not initially pleasant? Are we in His Word? Are we letting His Word light are path?
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105
“for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light” Ephesians 5:8
Blessings this week!
Pastor Russ
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