The Journey from Darkness to Light

We live in a world and time like this, where some fail to realize we are on a journey from Earth to our final destination. If the truth be told, if we are left to our vices, we will be like the rich man and lift our eyes in Hell. Therefore, we must understand the ultimate sacrifice that would lead us not from Earth to Hell but from Earth to Heaven. Matthew 27:45-56 takes us on a journey from darkness to light, despair to hope, and death to life. In these verses, we witness the culmination of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, which forever changed humankind.

As Jesus hung on the cross, the entire world became dark. This darkness would symbolize the weight of sin and judgment that Jesus bore on our behalf. This darkness reminds us of the depth of our sinfulness and our desperate need for a Savior. If we journey from Earth to heaven, from darkness to light, we must understand that our sins have put us in the dark. Not only has sin put us in the dark, but it also put Jesus in the dark in our place on Calvary. In this darkness, Jesus cries loudly from the cross, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Please understand that these words reveal the immense agony and separation Jesus experienced as He bore the world's sins. At that moment, He took the total weight of our guilt and shame upon Himself. In that moment, he experienced the anguish of being separated from God amid darkness. You see, there are those of us who are still on the journey from darkness to light that do not realize their darkness is due to their separation from God. A separation that brings about the feeling of abandonment and loneliness: for when God is with you, you are never alone. Thus, Jesus decided to journey towards the Father. He willingly gave up His spirit and died. He loudly cried and yielded His spirit, demonstrating His complete surrender and obedience to the Father's will. If you are going to journey from darkness to the light, you must surrender to the Father. Surrender your will and your way to Jesus. Through His sacrificial death, salvation and reconciliation with God became possible for all who believe and desire to come out of darkness into the light. When Jesus breathed His last, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, symbolizing the access we now have to God's presence through Jesus' sacrifice. It ends the Old Covenant and begins a new era of grace and intimacy with God. For you see, you cannot be intimate with God in the dark. When you come out of the dark, you have full access to Him without worry of separation. This access is so open that others who did not want to come out of the darkness cannot help but see there was a new way. The centurion and those with him who witnessed the earthquake recognized that Jesus was the Son of God. Thus, there was a confession of faith from unexpected sources. When you journey out of darkness into the light, you will see Jesus differently. And it reminds us that the power of Christ's sacrifice transcends human understanding and can touch even the hardest of hearts. I want you to know we are on a journey from darkness to light in this life. Let us remember the darkness our Savior endured, the depth of His love for us, and the victory over sin and death that His sacrifice accomplished.

Prayer

Father, we come before you with reverence, reflecting on how much you loved us to give your only begotten Son for us to journey out of darkness into the light. We thank you for His willingness to die, be buried, and rise from the grave. Lead us to respond with gratitude, faith, and a renewed commitment to live in the light of His love. Amen.

Regretta Ruffin, D.Min.serves as assistant professor for the Regent University School of Divinity.