Journey: A New Believer's Guide to Spiritual GrowthSample

Light is the Answer to Darkness

Have you ever experienced total darkness, complete blackness, eyes wide open seeing absolutely nothing? It’s almost indescribable, the fear, anxiety, and sense of abandonment and being lost with nothing available to guide you back home. I don’t think I’ll ever forget that feeling even though it was only momentary until the guide turned on his light in that underground cave.

The dictionary definition of total darkness is quite simple: the absence of light. Darkness wreaks havoc on the human body and mind, messing up our sleep cycles and disrupting circadian rhythms -- physical, mental, and behavioral changes that follow a 24-hour cycle. These natural processes respond primarily to light and dark and affect most living things, including animals, plants, and microbes. Darkness can also make us feel depressed and fatigued. Knowing that helps to understand why Scripture talks so much about being a light in this world.

Matthew 5:14 offers a clear metaphor. “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.” Jesus is saying, “you -- all believers -- are the light…” meaning this is about our identity and our call to be a beacon that leads others to Christ. A human eye can detect the flame of a single candle from a little over 4 miles away -- it, quite simply, cannot be hidden. What do you think a life that “cannot be hidden” looks like? For ideas from scripture, look at the list in Galatians 5:22-23.

When you think about the characteristics of light, the metaphor becomes even more profound. Light consists of packets of energy called photons. It travels at relatively high speed in a narrow, straight line and travels fast in a vacuum. When you see what’s happening in the world around you, do you think help coming straight to the problem at a fast speed, especially when there’s no other help around might be a blessing? Would that be something that people are drawn to? Look back at Matthew 5:14. Given what “light” and “world” represent, what is Jesus saying we are and to whom? Through Jesus, we are the light that this world so desperately needs!

Are there areas of light that you are keeping hidden in your life? If so, why? What do you think would happen if you let your light shine more? 

Pray: Take the list of light characteristics (e.g. kindness, integrity, etc.) and make them into a prayer list. You can also use Galatians 5:22-23 as a list to pray through. Pray that God helps you have each of these qualities in greater measure. Also, pray that these will be used to help others find and follow Jesus!