Ouachita Stories

Scripture paints such vivid portraits of important truths for us, and the contrast of light and darkness is one that all people can relate to. Whether you grew up in the bright fluorescent lights of Times Square or in a rural portion of the developing world where nature dictates much of daily life through the cycles of light and darkness every 24 hours, you have a personal context for these concepts.

The Word tells us that God is light, and that in Him there is no darkness (1 John 1:5). I love the prophetic imagery of Isaiah 9:2 about Christ reflected in Matthew 4:16: “The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” Jesus is that great light, offering hope to all those that choose Him.

 

Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

John 3:20-21

 

Paul exhorts the early churches in Ephesus and Thessalonica with statements about what it means to be disciples of Christ. “For you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord, walk as children of Light” (Ephesians 5:8). “You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:5).

What do we know and understand about light? Well, even the smallest source of light is visible in a very dark place. Light is always stronger than darkness. In fact, the darker the night is, the brighter light shines. Even a small flicker of light in a dark place is seen by others as reflecting God’s image in us.

If the electricity goes out and you can only find one small candle, you’re not going to be able to see or do much. In contrast, a room full of candles can be quite bright! When we walk in chorus with Christ and other believers as the body, we shine much brighter.

The closer we get to the source of light, the more clearly we see. As we walker closer and closer to Jesus, more and more of His light is illuminated in us, and through the power of the Holy Spirit, He continues to transform the remaining shadows in our lives.

God is light. Through relationship with His Son, we are privileged to be “children of light.” May we walk daily in humility and gratitude, with a desire to share this hope with those who are not yet living in His light.

 

By Amy Garrett, Assistant Director of the Grant Center