“So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.
~ John 12:35 ESV
I was sitting on the porch this morning watching my human drink coffee and read his Bible. I was quietly laying there because a dog can learn a thing or two if he listens more than he barks.
He was reading about Jesus being the Light of the world. That got me thinking about darkness.
Now, I know a thing or two about the absence of light. I’ve stumbled over my fair share of things in the middle of the night trying to find the water bowl.
But here’s the thing. When somebody flips on a light, the darkness doesn’t put up a fight. It doesn’t argue or negotiate. The darkness simply disappears because the light has arrived.
Jesus knew His time on earth was drawing to a close. He wanted His followers to believe in the Light, walk in the Light, and become children of the Light before darkness came.
He knew dark days were ahead. His followers would face confusion, fear, disappointment, and grief. But the darkness they faced would never be stronger than the Light they had come to know.
And neither is ours.
We live in a world where darkness shows up in some pretty ugly ways. Anger, hatred, dishonesty, division, and hopelessness can make it hard to see the way forward. Sometimes the darkness gets personal, showing up in our own hearts through bitterness, fear, pride, and choices we’d rather keep hidden.
But maybe we’ve got the problem backward. We spend so much time talking about how dark the world has become that we forget what we’ve been called to do.
We’re called to shine.
Not with our opinions, our self-righteousness, or our ability to point out everybody else’s faults. We’re called to shine with the light of Jesus Christ. To let His truth shape our decisions, His grace guide our relationships, and His love show up in the way we treat people.
As I understand it, a light doesn’t have to be big to make a difference. Even a little porch light can help somebody find their way home.
And a small act of kindness, an honest word, a forgiven offense, or a helping hand can shine brighter than we realize.
Of course, my human says we can’t shine with a light we haven’t received ourselves. We must believe in Jesus, follow Him, and let His light change us from the inside out.
I think he’s onto something there. After all, a flashlight with dead batteries isn’t much help to anybody.
So here’s my question for the day: Are we spending our time complaining about the darkness, or are we allowing Jesus to shine through us?
The world doesn’t need more people pointing at the shadows. It needs more people reflecting the Light.
Let’s shine in this dark world.
Keep the Faith… Carpe Diem
