Weeks after the devastation of hurricanes Helene and Milton, thousands were still battling the wreckage from their fury—washed out roads, flooded homes and businesses, toppled trees, along with a slew of other concerns.
For some who escaped the worst of the carnage, there was a common denominator—loss of power. Millions of people who relied on a steady supply of electricity suddenly found themselves fumbling in the thick darkness that followed.
Sales of generators soared. Flashlights and candles became the only means to navigate the tediously long hours of the night. Although power was restored to many within days, for some it was weeks in the dark. For others in particularly hard-hit areas like the Blue Ridge mountains, some were told they might not receive power for many months, even into 2025.
As Christmas nears, it is good to remember that the Savior, born two millennia ago, is the Messiah promised by the prophets to shatter the darkness of our sin-stricken world. Hear the prophetic words of Isaiah spoken 700 years before Jesus’ virgin birth. Speaking of the region of Galilee where our Lord based His earthly ministry, Isaiah wrote: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone” (Isaiah 9:2).
Jesus is the “light of the nations” who came “to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness” (Isaiah 42:6-7). Everywhere the Savior went, the spiritual darkness of sin and death retreated before the Light of the World.
Light and darkness is a favorite metaphor employed by the Apostle John in his Gospel and epistles. In the very first chapter of his Gospel, he writes of Jesus Christ: “In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:4-5). In his first letter, he announces, “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5).
Darkness is oppressive and dangerous, especially in the spiritual realm. Hell is called “outer darkness” (Matthew 22:13); those who reject the witness of God’s divine nature in what He has made have “foolish hearts” that are “darkened” (Romans 1:21); unbelievers are “darkened in their understanding” (Ephesians 4:18). The diabolical, murderous realm of our fierce but defeated adversary is a “domain of darkness” (Colossians 1:13).
But it is a darkness that has been pierced and overthrown by the Lord Jesus Christ, “the light of the world” (John 8:12). Jesus of Nazareth shatters the imprisoning realm of the devil when He causes us to be born again. “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 Corinthians 4:6)
C.S. Lewis wrote: “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen; not only because I see it, but by it I see everything else.” In other words, the light of the Gospel of the glory of God causes us to see sin for what it is—rebellion, treachery, disobedience to God—while simultaneously opening our eyes to see the beauty of the Lord Jesus Christ in His redemptive sacrifice for our sins, and triumphant resurrection. We who were spiritually blind and dead came alive when the Gospel light shone in our hearts.
After John exclaimed in his epistle that “God is light,” he went on to reveal a critical truth: “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.” The Apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8). Having been delivered from darkness’ domain, we are now challenged to live in such a way that the light of the Gospel radiates forth in our daily walk.
That light is to shine before our neighbors, friends and family in such a way that God is honored and glorified (see Matthew 5:19). We are now people who belong to our Heavenly Father so that we “may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). Light-bearers we are!
And just how do we do that?
Only two verses after John encourages us to walk in God’s light, he reminds the believer who sins that “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Daily confession of sin means that God’s forgiveness is regularly applied and experienced. He nailed our sins to the cross. He bore them as our Substitute. He has taken them away by putting them on Himself when He hung on Calvary’s tree. Although sin can never bring us again into God’s condemnation (see Romans 8:1), it can cloud our sweet fellowship with the Savior. Confession means we agree with the Lord about our sin, and then we flee to the cross, where sin was finally and ultimately forgiven.
We walk in God’s light when we daily intake, study and delight in God’s Word. God’s Word is truth, and walking in the light means we live in obedience to it. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).
We walk in the light when we commit ourselves to become fully devoted followers of Christ. “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life (John 8:12). We are called to be disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, not halfhearted fans. The disciple lives to please the Savior, no matter how distressing the demands, pain and troubles of life.
God is faithful to His people and His Word. Here’s a great promise for the believer who may be struggling: “when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me” (Micah 7:8).
The darkness can never overcome the light. The Light of the World has seen to it. In the new Heaven and the new Earth, “Night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever” (Revelation 22:5).
Darkness banished forever. The Light of the Lamb for eternity. ©2024 BGEA
Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version.
Jim Dailey is executive editor of Decision magazine.