Darkness and Light

We live in dark times.  The COVID-19 global pandemic, racism, Godzilla clouds from the Sahara – there’s just no end to the intensity and pervasiveness of the darkness that envelops the world.  And yet in one sense, this is nothing new.  Since the Fall in the Garden of Eden, people have been in an epic struggle between dark and light, evil and good.  If all we had at our disposal were newspapers and politicians, it would be pretty hopeless.  But thanks be to God, this isn’t the case.  Today, let’s consider Light and Dark and our individual and collective responsibilities as Christians.

Matthew 5:14-16

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Things to think about:

The World lives in Darkness

·      John 3:19b – “but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.”

·      Acts 26:18 (Jesus speaking to Paul) – “to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”

·      Why does sin shroud Man in darkness?

God is Light

·      1 John 1:5 – “This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.”

·      In John 1:4-5, the apostle tells us, “In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

We have been brought into the Light

·      In John 8, Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

·      Colossians 1:13 – “For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves”

We are the Light of the world

·      Matthew 5:14-16 – “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

·      1 John 1:6-7 – “If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But 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, purifies us from all sin.”

Our Response

·      Thinking about your family, how do we let our light shine before others?

·      Thinking about your neighbors, how do we let our light shine before others?

·      Thinking about our society, how do we let our light shine before others?

·      Thinking about our world, how do we let our light shine before others?