Darkness is simply the absence of Light

 

Do you like absolutes? Something that is completely unequivocal and not capable of being viewed as partial.  An absolute is complete and in no way conditional on any future evidence or behavior.  Darkness is the absence of light, light can be measured, but darkness cannot.  So for many who hate absolutes, and try to say there is no such thing, could their problem be they hate the light, because the light exposes their deeds?  I must share a disclaimer; my belief system is not based on my thoughts, but on the authority of Scripture and my understanding of it, and the author of the Bible has a lot of ink on the subject of darkness and light.

Jesus speaking in John 3:19, 20, “And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil.  For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.”  The first chapter of the book of John will introduce you to the light that has come into the world.  If you are a good religious person or a person hiding in the darkness of your heart, and have not by faith gone to the light, you are walking in darkness.   Jesus speaks to this in Mark 7:6-8, “And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrine the commandments of men.’ You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”  How often we foolishly believe we are following Christ, only to discover we are full of formalism, bringing meaningless worship with our lips, but our actions are far from the commandments of God; Jesus calls those who do that hypocrites.

These are the claims of Jesus: “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)  Bad things happen to good people in darkness, it could be said that there is danger in darkness.  Jesus also knew that often we are dull in our thinking so the Holy Spirit put these thoughts into the apostle John’s mind to share with us: “Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.” (1 John 2:9)  Jesus also called us sheep, not some cute little lamb, but sheep that can easily be scattered and become prey for wolves.  Sheep need a shepherd who will give them the protection and the direction they need.  Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”  It is not a light to make the path as if it were day, it is shining right in front of your feet, so that you stay on the trail God has for you. 

We have entered a time where many will come claiming they have the light we need, “Hope and Change” but like sheep who are not all that smart and do not ask; hope in what and or what changes, and what many hoped was light is not light, but more darkness.  Jesus is the light of the world and Christians should not be looking elsewhere for light or hope; you will not find it in man only in Christ.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice