When things look dark

“For it is you who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness.” (Psalm 18:28 ESV)

Light in the darkness

An old joke is, “I saw the light at the end of the tunnel, but it turned out to be a freight train!” To many, in view of the evil they see all around them, that’s not funny. Watching the scary events reported daily in the news does make things look dark and hopeless. But, Jesus offers great hope, especially for perilous times. It’s important to view the world through the light of Jesus. We can walk in His light and have His understanding on things no matter how dark things may appear. I love what someone once said, “I looked at the end of the book, and we won!”

“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Jesus enlightens everyone

“The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.” (John 1:9 ESV)

“I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.” (John 12:46 ESV)

“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” ((2 Cor. 4:6 ESV)

The wicked hates the light

“And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” (John 3:19-21 ESV)

Therefore…

“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:5-7 ESV)

“For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” (Eph. 5:8 ESV)

Quote:

“Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.