My daughter calls out as I start to leave her room: “Don’t forget the closet light, Mom!” This part of her bedtime routine is just as important as the kiss on the forehead. She hates being alone in her room at night, and being alone in the dark would be unbearable.
As adults, the darkness we fear is different, but no less real. We struggle with doubts, unanswered questions, and anxiety. We lay awake in the middle of the night as frightening scenarios – both real and imagined – run rampant through our brains. We stumble in the dark, feeling along the wall, trying to find a light switch that will chase the fear away. Where can we find answers, resolution, comfort, or hope in our dark moments?
Over the next few weeks, we will look at prophecies from Isaiah that were fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Today we’ll see that Jesus is the light that shines in the darkness.
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.” (Isaiah 9:2)
God’s people in the Old Testament walked in darkness for centuries. They awaited the Messiah, a Savior who would rescue them from the darkness of sin and death. They clung to a promise without understanding what it meant or how it would be fulfilled. How could God possibly unravel the mess caused by evil and sin?
In John 1, we see that Jesus Christ is the answer to life’s darkness. He is the light that those walking in darkness so desperately need.
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. . . The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.” (John 1:5, 9)
The true light is here, breaking through the darkness. In Christ, we have everything we need to battle fear, sin, questions, doubts—even death. The darkness of these struggles cannot overcome His light.
Jesus gives His blood-bought forgiveness for our sins . . .
His sustaining strength for our struggles . . .
and His incomparable comfort for our troubled hearts.
The light of Christ guarantees that the darkness will never win.
No matter what you face this week, the light of Christ shines in the darkness.
Share
Leave a Reply