Darkness and Light
By: Kristen L. McNulty
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In scripture it’s not often recorded that Jesus raised His voice. In fact, the picture of Christ that most of us have painted in our minds isn’t that of a man who shouts for attention.
But in John chapter 12, an instance is recorded where Jesus didn’t quietly teach a profound statement. Instead he shouted the words out to the crowd. Maybe they were a noisy bunch. Maybe He was tired after a long day in the oppressive heat. Or maybe He wanted to make sure that this point was not lost on any of those within earshot.
Jesus said, rather loudly: “If you trust me, you are not trusting only me, but also God who sent me. For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark.”
From birth, we all see a physical darkness when the sun goes down. But unfortunately many of us from a young age have also experienced the darkness that can oppress us in this world.
The depressing stories on the news. The tragedies everywhere we turn. The sin that so easily purses us. Darkness is real. And darkness is evident all around us.
But Jesus shouted loud and clear a very important truth- that when we trust Him, we don’t remain in the dark any longer.
That doesn’t mean that we walk around blinded to what really goes down in this world. Rather it means that His light lights up our life so clearly that the darkness is chased away from our vision. Instead of consuming our lives, the only evidence of darkness is the shadows that are sometimes cast in our lives.
I love the way Rob Lacey describes the light of Christ in The Word On The Street. He writes: “no one can camouflage a fireworks display”.
Fireworks are an obvious signal that is sent out in the darkness of night. It can’t be hidden. It can’t be disguised. And that’s exactly what the light of Christ is in our lives. An obvious signal that can’t be hidden or disguised. And that light truly does make all the difference.
It makes a difference for the mother with a sick child. It makes a difference for the teenager having temptation thrown their way. It makes a difference for the believer who's trying to make a life-changing decision. When we trust in Jesus, we no longer are in darkness. Instead it's His light that shines the path in front of us and shows us where we should be going. And it's in His presence that we know we're not alone to stumble our way through life. No matter what life throws our way, that's a pretty safe place to be, isn't it?
This devotional was aired as a part of the Making A Difference Christian Radio Show.