Have you ever stood in complete darkness? Not just figuratively, but literally in the absence of light. Let me tell you, it is an eye-opening experience! <Pun intended>
My husband and I are adventurous and love to explore new places. When we were first married, we explored the Ape Caves in Washington, an underground lava tube about a mile long. We came prepared, making sure we had a stock of flashlights and good shoes. What I wasn’t prepared for was how dark darkness can be when no light can be found. I grew up as a kid who was always scared of the dark, but I had never experienced true darkness up until that point.
Just for fun, we stopped in the middle of the cave and turned off our flashlights. I was now surrounded by complete and utter darkness. My eyes strained to find some source of light, but I was left not able to see a single thing! Even though my husband was only inches away from me, I couldn’t see him. I will never forget how overwhelming true darkness was–and how it instilled in me a bit of panic.
While it felt like I was lost in the darkness, completely alone, I still had the hope of my light source–my trusty flashlight! Once we turned our lights back on, I could see that my husband had still been right next to me all along. We could shine the light forward and see what was ahead of us and shine it around so we didn’t stumble on the rocks below our feet. We quickly realized that we were completely dependent on our flashlights to get us out of this cave. Without the lights we carried, we would be forever lost in this cave.
Just like the darkness in this cave, in life sometimes, we can find ourselves in the dark without light to illuminate our path. Without light, we are vulnerable to stumbling blocks in our path. We need light to help us see the way through the dark and difficult situations we face. Although the light may only reveal the next step in front of us, we need to know we are on the right path.
The only way to escape the darkness in life and in our hearts is to turn to Jesus. He came to the world and to the people whom He created and knew well, as the light that shines into hearts and illuminates the way to life. Not just any life, but life as God originally intended: full of love, hope and joy.
The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.”
John 1:4-5 NLT
Jesus is the light that darkness cannot overcome, no matter how dark a cave we find ourselves in, Jesus will get us through. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6 NLT). He is the only way to true life.
If we allow the light of Jesus to illuminate our path, we can continue to put one foot in front of the other, confident that even if we cannot see Him, He is there, showing us the way.
