12/05/2019
We live during the day in the light of the sun, and at night we endure the darkness, but do we walk in the spiritual light of Jesus Christ, and do we separate ourselves from the darkness that is not of Him? How do these two sources of light, the physical and the spiritual, differ in our lives?
“And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.”
Genesis 1:3-4 ESV
The physical light that exists in the universe is good because God created it and said it was good. Our eyes are designed to gather this light and to reveal all those things around us by using it. This is how we are able to experience God’s creation, and keep from stumbling about... it removes the confusion and allows us to understand the world as it is.
“"The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!”
Matthew 6:22-23 ESV
The white light of our sun is so complex... in it exists all of the individual colors of the rainbow, and our eyes are able to see them each individually and in combination... in this way we discern the world in all its nuances, and communicate to one another in amazing ways... a bright red hue on our cheeks indicates embarrassment, the color of our bodies and organs indicate health or sickness, and the flush of lovers skin telegraphs intimate attraction. We use color in so many ways and the world is full of it. This is why the Bible uses light as such a powerful metaphor, and teaches us that there is a spiritual light in which we should dwell as well...
“having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,”
Ephesians 1:18 ESV
Spiritual light shows us, by the eyes of our soul, all the shapes, colors, and nuances of the spiritual world, and teaches us that there is a spiritual separation between the light and darkness in that realm as well. In both our earthly and spiritual existence light is good and brings us life...
“Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.”
Ecclesiastes 11:7 ESV
“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 ESV
Darkness... it is nothing in and of itself, it is defined as being the absence of visible light, and when it is absolute, our eyes see it as pitch black, and we are lost, not in it, but in the absence of God and Jesus... unable to navigate easily without tripping and falling. Darkness is neither good nor bad but is the place where evil is most comfortable. On earth darkness is rarely complete, and even in the night there is an ambient light that our “night eyes” can gather and which allows us to still move about... but in it lurks danger, and because of this we fear. We are vulnerable in the night because our eyes are designed to work best in the bright light of day... and so it is with the eyes of our soul... they are designed to function in the light, which is Jesus Christ.
The eyes of our souls (our hearts) see God and Jesus in all of their splendor and color, but in the dark we are limited, and it is here that sin is king, and Satan rules. When spiritual darkness becomes our place of comfort we have chosen to separate ourselves from God.
“Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the voice of his servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.”
Isaiah 50:10 ESV
So we were designed and created to exist in the light; both physical and spiritual light. In the beginning God separated the light from the darkness, and so it is that we have day and night today, but there is a difference between physical and spiritual darkness... we can move from physical light to darkness and back again without sinning, but spiritually speaking we can’t move out of the light which is Jesus without losing our salvation... without reentering the realm of sin.
We can’t avoid physical earthly night because as the earth rotates we are going to move with it from day to night, and so it is that we fear the night because creatures inhabit its darkness that we are less capable of seeing and defending ourselves against. But spiritually speaking we can avoid the darkness, and are told to do so because if we enter into spiritual darkness we have separated ourselves from God, and are given over to sin, and Satan. In this way we we should remain in the light. Listen to Charles Spurgeon...
“The children of the day must be sober, honest, and bold in their Lord’s work, leaving the world of darkness to those who shall dwell in it forever. Our churches should by discipline divide the light from the darkness, and we individually, by our distinct separation from the world, should do the same.” - Charles Spurgeon
So, how do we live our lives of spiritual light and darkness as compared to earthly day and night? Do we think that we can step into and out of the light that is Jesus Christ freely and with no consequence, just as we move from the sunset of evening into the night, and from the dawn of morning into the day? The answer is no, because in spiritual darkness we are willingly removing ourselves from God’s presence.
If you are in a spiritually dark place today, I pray that the eyes of your heart be opened to the light which is Jesus Christ. I pray that you will seek His forgiveness and return to the light that radiates from Him... life. If darkness is your lot today, then go to your knees in contrition, and pray for forgiveness so that you will experience the spiritual light of salvation through our Savior Jesus Christ. He is waiting for you, and His light is there to guide you.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the light of your Son Jesus who leads me into your presence, and in whose light I find my salvation and life. Thank you Holy Father for opening the eyes of my heart to your Son, and delivering me from the dark realm of sin, and Satan. Keep me in the light of your presence, and the warm comfort of your arms forever. Give me courage to step out of the darkness Father, and remove all the fear that it has taught me was natural during the time I resided there. Show me the true glory of yourself, and all of the magnificent color of heaven! Let your glory and light bring awe to my eyes... eyes that have seen nothing but darkness for so long. Praised be your name Father, for in you I find forgiveness, and the brilliant light of eternity. In you Merciful Father I can at last see, by grace, the radiant face of Jesus, and all of heaven beyond. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God whose light I cherish, and in whose presence I find my peace and rest. Great is your name Father, and may all glory and truth bask in your light now, and forevermore.
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
Psalms 27:1 ESV
Rich Forbes