When I was younger, I would go to sleep with a lamp on in my room. If that lamp was off, there was no way that I would be falling asleep. I am not sure what it was about the dark that scared me so bad. All I know is that it terrified me to be in the dark.
I thought that I had moved past that fear of the dark. I am no longer frightened to be in a dark room; I do not, for the record, sleep with a lamp on anymore. However, if I am being honest, I am still afraid of the dark. The world is a dark place though it has its joys and little blessings, it is a fallen world. It is looming with a darkness. In fact, the Bible states that "In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." That is to say that humans have been blinded by the devil. That darkness, or blindness, is terrifying to me.
Luckily, I am not forced to live in that darkness. There is an escape from the blindness of our human nature. There is a light that can illuminate this world; Even all that is beyond. The best way to explain this light is to present 2 Corinthians 4:6, "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."
Jesus Christ is the light. You can see it all throughout the scriptures. Notice when Jesus died upon the cross, what happened? In Luke, it tells that " It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last." Darkness overcame the world. When Jesus died the light of the world was gone, even the sun stopped shining. How can a dark room be illuminated if you have taken its source of light? Luckily, Christ rose again allowing His light to be shared with all people. Finally, Let's look at Revelation and read about the new Jerusalem, "And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof." (Revelation 21:23) There will be no need for the sun or moon because Christ is the ultimate light.
Secondly, through Jesus Christ, we can also be a light. Matthew 5:14 says, "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid." When Christ opens our eyes and shares the light with us, we become a light to others. His glory illuminates and defines us. That is not to say, however, that we suddenly become the light; Rather the light of Christ is so magnificent that it shines through us. This entails that as Christians our lights should be shining for Christ. An evaluation of yourself may be in need. Is Christ's light shining through you in such a way that His glory is reflected through your life?
In addition to Christ and us, God's word is our light. This is manifested in Psalms 119:105, "Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path." When one spends time investing in God's word the darkness stands no chance. Through His word, God reveals much about Himself, his kingdom, how we are to live and he speaks through His word to those who read it. These are essential for our defense in the dark. The word of God shines light on the hope that we have through Christ. It lights our path so that we do not have to be afraid of the dark.
What, then, reason do I, or you or any soul have to fear darkness? Darkness is powerless in light of Christ. 1 Peter 2:9 says, "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." We have been called out of darkness. We have all been invited into the marvelous light of Christ in which evil, death and darkness have no power. There is hope even in darkness. For this reason, I must change what I said earlier.
I am not afraid of the dark.
