Friday, October 2, 2009

Light & Darkness

 

I've been thinking for a while about the reality of Light and its relationship to dark or darkness.  I’ve been watching how the Light and darkness interact in the world around me.  It is amazing to me how the Light always invades the darkness but the darkness never invades the Light.  In fact as the darkness intensifies it only enhances the Light and makes it more easily seen.

 

I had my children do an experiment the other night.  We often have a time together in the evenings just before their bedtime where they do tricks for me and get silly.  We have a time of prayer together and then off to bed.  This particular night I asked them to step into my closet and shut the door and turn off the light in the closet.  Once they did that I asked them what happened when they turned off the light.  They all said, “its dark in here mom.”  Then I asked them to slide the door open and watch what happens in the closet.  I actually have two sets of doors so Connor opened his side and said, “Mom the light comes in.”  Of course when Maylah and Jethro opened the other side they also commented, “the light comes in.”  Then I had them come out and join me on the bed and we talked a bit about how the light always goes into the darkness and the darkness is always pushed out.

 

I’ve continued to think about this reality in the relationship between Light and darkness.  What is it that keeps the Light out.  It the case of my experience with my children it was the closet doors.  The Light had to have a physical barrier that blocked it from moving forward.  Light cannot help but to move forward.  It never runs out or diminishes, it just keeps lighting up where ever it is not blocked from going in.  Even when it is blocked out it still eeks in around the sides and you can see the illumination around the door itself. 

 

At the same time I just started Bible Study Fellowship for the year.  This year we are studying the gospel of John.  In the Gospel of John Jesus and Light are tied together.

 

John 1:4               In Him (Jesus) was life and that life was the Light of men.

John 1:5               The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

John 1:9               There was the true Light which coming into the world, enlightens every man.

John 3:19-21        This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.  For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.  But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.

John 5:35             He was the lamp that was burning and was shining and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his Light.

John 8:12             Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

John 9:5               While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.”

John 11:9-10        Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day?  If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the Light of this world.”  But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”

John 12:35-36      So Jesus said to them, “For a little while longer the Light is among you.  Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not over take you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes.  While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.”  These things Jesus spoke and He went away and hid Himself from them.

John 12:46           I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness.

 

As I continue to ponder this relationship between Light and dark and Jesus being the Light of the world; I cannot help but to think of another scripture over in Romans.  In Romans 1:20 it says, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” 

 

It is evident to me even more so now than before, that the Creation does really at all times reflect His glory and His presence.  Only when we withdraw from His presence does the darkness get a hold of us. 

 

I hope that all the rest of my days that I will always move into the Light and have Jesus illumine those areas of my heart that are still in darkness.  I hope that as these days get even darker that my Light will shine even brighter that others would be drawn to Him. 

 

For now, I will keep pondering the Light and dark relationship hoping for more in-site into this world around me and my own life in Him.

Posted via web from jenniferthorne's posterous