DEVOTION / Walking in the light
How dark is dark?
In Genesis 1:5 we read: God called the light ‘day,’ and the darkness he called ‘night.’ We know that when God created the world, there was nothing but darkness. Genesis 1:1 tells us that Darkness was over the face of the deep. And we also know that the first day of creation saw the beginning of light.
Nyctophobia is the extreme fear of darkness. It is a problem that affects many people. They become afraid when they are in the dark or even when they think about darkness. We know children begin fearing the dark at about age 3 when their imagination rules their thoughts. Usually, they grow out of such fear.
The Bible speaks of darkness. We know the sky became dark from noon until three o’clock when Jesus hung on the cross. During one of the Egyptian plagues, it became extremely dark. Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that darkness spreads over Egypt—darkness that can be felt (Exodus 10:21).
God’s light and darkness
Often, the Bible compares darkness with evil. Ephesians 5:11 says, Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” We say that unbelievers walk in darkness.
On the other hand, Jesus calls himself the Light of the World. It is he who opens our eyes and provides the light to walk the straight path that leads to heaven. In John 8:12, we read, He said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’
We thank the Lord for his great mercy. He has called us out of the darkness to be his children. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness (1 Thessalonians 5:5). And we find comfort in the words, For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6).
As children of the light, we will want to obey and serve our Lord Jesus. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (Ephesians 5:8).
by Reynold R. Kremer