Seeing the Light in a Dark World

I once read that darkness was an obscurity that leads into gloom. That doesn't sound very encouraging. It sounds like that old country song, "Gloom, despair, agony on me, deep dark depression, excessive misery." I don't think that too many of us would walk right into a dark room very quickly. We would at least have some apprehension and try and find a light switch. I also think that most of us can be trapped when we encounter places and situations that are not real clear to us and are rather obscure.

I've also recognized how vulnerable we all are to the darkness of this world. The obscurity is ever so subtle. In America we are enamored by so many things that in the very end mean very little. These things pre-occupy our time day in and day out but they eat away the opportunities to let the light shine on the darkness. Darkness keeps you busy. You are always trying to find your way out. If you light a match in a dark place you might get about one minute of insight as to where you really are.

This is one of my favorites in the Bible

1 John 1:5-7

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Here's what I learn from this scripture.

1. If God is Light then nothing is obscure and unclear in Him

2. We cannot live in the obscurity and darkness of the kosmos(world) and be rightly related to God.

3. We cannot have fellowship with other Christians(fellowship is different than friendship) if we are in darkness.

4. Our sin is not being cleansed while living in the darkness.

The first step out of the darkness is being truthful with ourselves about where we are in the light of these verses.

Questions that I ask myself

1. Is God clear to me? Is He real to me?

2. Am I fooling myself with my present life style? Am I operating in the Kosmos(this world) or am I living in the Kingdom of God?

3. Do I have real community and fellowship with believers or am a I alone and isolated in my deepest thoughts?

4. Am I deceived about where I really am? Is there bondage and sin that I am not willing to identify?

Walking in the Light is an upper! It is exhilarating and helps us live freely in this world and yet not succumb to it's gloom and doom. Groping around in the dark is no place to be. I've stubbed my toe one too many times doing that.