More than likely, you have experienced periods of darkness in your life. I’m alluding specifically to spiritual darkness.
It might be a bright and sunny day, yet there’s a certain gloom that transcends the normalcy of your being.
Whether you are a follower of Christ or not, you have certainly sensed a darkness from some distance at least. Many are greatly affected by the sensation of darkness around them.
As I mentioned, as human beings, we are limited how we directly deal with spiritual darkness.
Sadly, the darkness we sense can have a dramatic impact on our lives and if we dwell on it excessively, can simply overwhelm us. It can harm us and remove us from reality.
Some will somehow rebound on their own and tenaciously get out of their downward spiral. However, we don’t need to take on this task on our own. We can ask others to join us in our personal battles.
We need to realize that our challenges are not all that unique.
In 1 Corinthians 10:13, the Apostle Paul reminds us that “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
Regarding darkness, in John 3:19 Jesus shares with Nicodemus, “This is the verdict; Light has come into the world; but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.”
Now you can certainly attempt to let in the light on your own. However, the light we can generate is only a reflection of God’s illumination.
In the beginning, He spoke light into existence. Light promotes growth and renewed life. Darkness leads to death and destruction.
Listen to these powerful words of the Prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 60:1-3:
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”
The light of God can change this world, but He expects us to shine that light.
The Apostle Paul warns His young protégé Timothy in what we are to expect in the last days:
“People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abrasive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good …” and Paul goes on and on in 2 Timothy 3.
No one knows the time or place of Messiah’s return, but it may well be nearer than you might think. It’s not too late to ask Jesus into your heart and start living a life that pleases God Almighty.
Why not read the Book of John from beginning to end. Maranatha — Come Lord Jesus!