"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." ESV
When the boys were young, we would drive to the Midwest to visit family each summer vacation. My brother took us to Bluesprings Caverns in Indian on one of these trips. The tour guide took us in a flat-bottomed boat through the cave. When they turned the boat around at the end, perhaps a couple of miles into the cave, they turned off the lights. The experience of being in the total absence of light was frightening and disturbing—what a sense of relief when the lights came back on.
When Jesus came, he drove out spiritual darkness.l As individuals, when we accept Christ, we receive his light. As we move through the darkness of this world, there may still be darkness in the parameters around us, but the light is not extinguished. Indeed, the shining of Christ's light emanates from us to those standing in the darkness around us.
As a church universal, when we put all of our lights together, we become a shining beacon. In the words of the children's song, This Little Light of Mine:
This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine
Precious Savior, we give you thanks for the light of Jesus you sent to us. We can stand against sin's darkness with this light, dispelling evil. Please help us as we let our lights shine, so others may come to know your hope. In the name of Son, we pray. Amen.
Blessings!
Pastor Tim
