SCRIPTURE:
5 This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. 6 So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. 7 But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.
1 John 1:5-7
OBSERVATION:
In times of darkness, remember that all it takes is a little bit of Light to drive it away.
In his first letter, John begins by saying “This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all” (1 John 1:5 NLT). This is the Gospel message––that Jesus brought light to a dark world, and still today, Jesus brings light into our dark world. As such, John encourages us to live in the light. “If we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7 NLT).
And we are not called just to live in the light; we are called to be the light. Jesus Himself tells us in Matthew 5:14-16 NIV, “14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 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. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
APPLICATION:
When does light shine the brightest? In the darkness.
Today, God is giving you a wakeup call to be the light. And not just when times are bright, but especially when the world is dark. For it’s in the midst of the world’s darkness that people notice God’s light shining the brightest. And it’s not because God’s light is shining brighter––it’s because people are paying closer attention.
In times of darkness, don’t focus on the dark; focus on being the light. That is when you are most needed. Don’t get me wrong––I don’t desire darkness. I hate dark times, and I don’t wish it upon anybody. But I’ve learned to praise God for dark times because it’s in the darkness that people discover their need for the light.
I think about this past week. In the aftermath of Hurricane Lala, many of us were left without electricity and in the darkness for hours, or even days, at a time. As I checked in with a number of people to see how they were doing, one responded, “I never realized how much I took light and electricity for granted.” It was in the darkness that He began to appreciate the light. And it was in the darkness that He desired the light.
In times of darkness, be the light. Don’t just sit back, coast, and wait for the light to come on––be the light. Be a good neighbor. Check on someone else. Go out into the world and out of your way to shine His light because it’s in times of darkness that people are craving His light the most. Don’t let them sit in darkness when you have the ability to illuminate their world. No. Be the prophetic fulfillment of John 1:5 NIV, that “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
Darkness cannot overcome the light. So if Jesus has called you to be the light of the world, why are you letting the world sit in darkness? Shine your light because when you do, it is impossible for the darkness to overcome you.
Imagine how much further the Kingdom of God could have been extended during the blackouts of Lala if we chose to be the light. Imagine how many more souls could have been won for Heaven if we went out of our way to shine His light into the dark corners of COVID. Think about how many missed opportunities we have let slip through our fingers because we forgot that God called us to be a flashlight for people in times of darkness.
The next time you encounter darkness, don’t stay dark. If you have Jesus, then YOU are the light of the world. When the lights go off and the world remains in darkness, turn on your light! For when you do, the world cannot remain in darkness.
May we no longer be a people who are content with darkness. In times of darkness, remember that you are the light. And all you need to do to make the darkness disappear is to turn on the light Christ has placed in you.
PRAYER:
Jesus,
You are the Light, and You have put Your light in me. Thank You, Lord, for allowing me to be a flashlight to the world and for giving me the privilege of getting to eradicate the darkness by shining for You. I repent for the many times I have chosen to stay dark and been a reason why the world remains dark. Forgive me. Today, I am reminded that because of You, the world does not have to remain dark; I have the power to shine Your light and to overcome the darkness by being the light. So Jesus, help me to be the light. Empower me to shine brightly, courageously, and boldly for You so that no one around me has to remain in darkness anymore. I love You, Lord. Thank You for loving me.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
