Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. John 8:12.
Recently I was doing some yard work. The afternoon soon turned to dusk, but I worked on to finish up the project at hand. I had enough light for completion, not realizing how dark it was until I came inside. My mother-in-law greeted me and asked how was I working in the dark? I guess it was at that point I appreciated how dark it was outside. Being fully immersed in the light of inside, pointed out the darkness from which I just came. My eyes had adjusted to the low lighting as I pressed on to finish my work. Not until being removed from the darkness, did I truly understand how the lateness of the hour had crept in.
Sin, often analogous to darkness, is much the same. When we are in it, we don’t realize how it has consumed us until we step out of it. The only way to step out of it in victory is through a relationship with Jesus Christ. As the darkness came upon me gradually, a rather slow fade, it occurred to me sin does the same. We become comfortable in the darkness and forget what living in the light is even like. It is only when our eyes are illumined by the light that we fully grasp the severity of our situation.
As Christians, we can step out of the light. It doesn’t mean we have lost our salvation, but our focus can be obscured, allured by other things that pull us from the light. This happens incrementally and often unnoticed, otherwise we would take note much sooner. It creeps up on us much like the light of day fades into night.
The Psalmist reminds us in Psalm 119:105, Your Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path. God’s Word is what helps keep the light on in our lives. Our path is illuminated by it. Otherwise, we will pursue what we think to be true, but is obscured by the darkness of sin that has gradually crept in.
Today, if you don’t have the Light of Christ living inside you, receive the gift of salvation and follow Him. If you are a Christian but have neglected your time with Him, run to His Word for illumination. All else is darkness.
Pastor Keith