"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." John 1:5 ESV
Years ago, when Kirk and Jordan were young, we would drive to the Midwest in the summers to visit family. On one of these trips, we went to Bluesprings Caverns. The tour guide took you in a flat-bottomed boat through the cave. When they turned the boat around, perhaps a couple of miles into the cave, they turned off the lights. The experience of being in the total absence of light was eerie, unnerving, and disconcerting—what a sense of relief when the lights came back on.
Scientifically, dark is more prevalent in the universe than light; you need no further proof than looking at the stars in the night sky. Likewise, in this earthly realm on which we reside, the darkness of sin is prevalent, for proof look around you. However, there is hope in that special something that happens when light is introduced to the dark; light makes the dark succumb to its power.
When Jesus came, he drove out spiritual darkness. As individuals, when we accept Christ, we are also accepting 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 through us provides hope to those 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 sent for us. Amid the darkness around us, we have His light. Please help us to let our light, your light, to shine brightly to those around us. In the name of Son, we pray. Amen.
Blessings!
Pastor Tim
