Afraid of the Dark - A Devotion

Luke 11:33-36 (NLT)
“No one lights a lamp and then hides it or puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house. Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. But when it is bad, your body is filled with darkness. Make sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness. If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light.”

Are you afraid of the dark? Do the things that go bump in the night send chills down your spine? I grew up in the days of characters such as “Freddy Krueger” and “Jason” and “Michael”. I remember going to theater with my friends thinking what in the world am I doing actually paying someone to make me afraid but I followed the crowd screaming huddled in fear with perfect strangers. Darkness has become entertainment. As a believer maturing over the years by faith, I have become aware of the dangers that are in the darkness of this world. Even masked by the words “fiction” and “entertainment”, the enemy of our soul beckons us to embrace demonic entities as heroes choosing the lesser of two evils. His job is to make us fall in love with darkness unsuspecting of the danger that lies within. Our children have not read the “Harry Potter” series or “Eclipse” and we do not watch or read things filled with magic, sorcery or even the latest craze of zombies or the living dead. Even as I watched a Disney movie last night about a princess with my daughter, I couldn’t help but notice the sensationalized demonic influence in it. She sat huddled on my lap turning her head closing her eyes she whispered, “I don’t like that mom!” I am glad that my children are wary of demons and darkness. Healthy fear and respect for the Light of the World that Jesus died to invest inside us beckons all who love and trust Him to step out of the darkness and into the Light of His Amazing Love. Sometimes it is best to close our eyes to the darkness offered in this world and focus on the Light invested in God’s People revealing the treasure of a healthy and healed heart filled with God’s Love. Are you afraid of the dark? You should be.

Your eye is the lamp that provides light to your body. What you allow in has an influence on your life whether you will admit it or not? When I was younger and less conscious of what I watched and/or listened to, I did not notice the things that were making a mark on my heart and life. It’s only entertainment, right? When the eye perceives goodness it is filled with goodness, but when it allows darkness inside the body, your body is filled with darkness. In this world with the excess and boundless gray areas, believers have forgotten to monitor their eyes and ears to protect our body from permeating darkness. Darkness produces doubt and kills faith. Just because I do not think fire is hot, does not change the fact that I will get burned if I put my hand in it. Our inability to discern the dangers of the darkness make it no less devastating in our life. God has not given us the spirit of fear, but He has given us the power of power, love and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7) Why is it we recite the first part but do not give much notice to the second part of this verse? God has given us the power to step out of the darkness into the Light of His Love, yet we still choose the things of this world over His Way. We are given a spirit of love yet still walk in the warring spirits of greed, envy, unforgiveness, bitterness, and hate. He has given us self-discipline to live as Children of the Light, yet we use the “excuse” of grace to walk in and out of it freely. Fear is found in darkness. By choosing to constantly move back and forth from darkness to light, there is a spirit of confusion that kills our faith and confident hope in Jesus Christ. It is time to step out of the darkness and live as Christ intended in the Light of His Love with power, love and self-discipline.

2 Samuel 22:29-31 (NLT)
O LORD, you are my lamp. The LORD lights up my darkness. In your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall. God’s way is perfect. All the LORD’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.

I find that in the fight of faith there are many times that darkness has slipped inside my heart undetected. It is usually discovered in the midst of fear and doubt as the Word of God reminds me of all that God has promised as my mind argues, “Where is your God?” The Lord is my lamp. He lights up my darkness even when I am not exactly happy with what I see. He is the Light of the World. His Way is perfect. All of the Lord’s Promises are true and found in His Light. He is my shield from darkness if I ask Him to protect my mind, body and spirit. However, if I embrace darkness in my life then light must leave. The two entities cannot co-exist and I have been given the freedom of choice. Where is God? Sometimes it requires closing our eyes to determine the contents of our heart. Are we living in the Light of His Love? Or have we exchanged the Light for darkness? We must be sure that the Light that we think we have is not darkness. (Luke 11:35) How can I be sure that I am a Child of the Light?

Psalm 119:105-106 (NLT)
Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. I’ve promised it once, and I’ll promise it again: I will obey your righteous regulations.

Thank you Jesus! By His Blood, the Word of God that once condemned us now confirms us in our Spirit. The Word of God is a lamp to guide my feet and light my path. You cannot escape the darkness without the Word of God. Without it, I cannot see the steps ordered by the Lord attempted by faith. With eyes wide open, I see the steps of this world that are always on the fringe of darkness. They are self-seeking. But as I continually live in the Word of God, His Way is revealed and it always leads to light. You will never be led astray when reading and praying the Word of God.

John 1:1-5 (NLT)
In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him and nothing was created except through him. 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.

Jesus Christ is the Word of God wrapped in flesh to lead us out of the darkness into the Light. Jesus is not conditional created as a provision for our sin. He was and is and is to come. In the beginning was the Word. Jesus existed when you and I were created. The Word (Jesus) is the giver of life. He is the Light that shines in the darkness for the “whosoevers” that choose to come! The Word of God shows us the Way! Jesus has given us freedom to escape the darkness of this world – now what. Peter shackled between two guards in a prison cell was overtaken by the Light of God’s Love and his shackles fell off right there. (Acts 12:6-7) So Peter picked them up and put them right back on waiting to be put on trial, beaten and possibly killed. No, he didn’t – he walked right out of the prison and escaped his bondage and imprisonment by the Light of God’s Love. Why do we insist on remaining in the darkness and/or entertaining darkness when we have been set free?

2 Corinthians 4:3-6 (NLT)
If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

There are two kinds of blindness. The blindness produced by the enemy of this world, Satan who has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. (Verse 4) There is also the blinding light of the love of God as He apprehends the human heart. Saul became Paul when he encountered the Light of God’s Amazing Love on the road to Damascus. He was forever changed. You were created to be a conduit of that love. God made you with the express purpose of reflecting His Light to the world. Have you accepted the call to step from the darkness to the Light? It is important to discern that the Light you have in your life is from the Lord. We must evaluate our surroundings. (Isaiah 50:10-11) Sometimes in the midst of blinding circumstances when we think that the enemy is attacking, it is actually the Light of God’s Amazing Love leading us to a breakthrough. He is removing the bondage of distrust. The Lord is working by His Spirit to release faith that will allow us to step from the darkness and live in the Light. Once you experience such a transformation, you will never go back to the darkness willingly! The Light is just too good! By the power of God, love of Jesus and self-discipline of His Spirit, you are becoming filled with His Light and darkness can no longer hold you back from the Promises of God for your life. They are right there in front of you! Now the Light shining in our hearts becomes visible to others.

Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT)
“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”

God did not ignite fiery passion in you to leave you to burn out. He lit you up to be the Light of the World. He is now the only Source (Isaiah 60:19-20) (Zechariah 14:6-7) you need to keep burning for Him. The Light in this world has gone out and given way to darkness. But the Source of Light will shine for all Eternity. He is shining now inside the heart and life of every believer. Even in the midst of the darkest night, the Light shines inside your heart. (2 Corinthians 4:6-7) Do not let your brokenness be a deterrent. No matter what the enemy hurls at you – yet you remain on fire for Jesus. Each crack in the façade of perfection bears witness to the Light that is inside of you. The more your flesh gives way to His Glory the brighter than His Light becomes in you. God is not looking for perfect vessels but willing ones. Brokenness allows the Light of God and His Love to be transparent in the human heart!

John 3:19-21 (NLT)
And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”

Do you love the Light more than darkness? Jesus is the Light! Love for Him should be reflected in every aspect of your life as darkness is left behind by moving into the Presence of God. You will hate the light if you risk exposure. Sin makes us an enemy of the Light. But rest assured everything in the darkness will be as light when Jesus returns. Nothing will go unnoticed except that which is covered by His Blood. Light produces light. (Ephesians 5:8-9) If you are not living in the power, love and self-discipline invested in you by God, Jesus and His Spirit – it may be time to look deep into your heart and discover true intentions and motivations concerning the Lord. Don’t waste your time living in the twilight on the edge of light and dark it will all disappear. God does not cast shifting shadows. His Word will illuminate the darkest recesses of your heart and mind for careful inspection. God has given you His Spirit. His Spirit will guard and protect the Light of His Love in your heart. (2 Timothy 1:13-14) Make sure the Light of your Life is the Way, Truth and Life – Jesus Christ. (I John 2:7-9) The Lord will replace the fear and doubt that was a product of the darkness with faith and confident hope found only in the Light of His Amazing Love! It’s okay to be aware of the darkness but you do not have to be afraid of the dark when you have Jesus to be your Way!

I Peter 2:9 (NLT)
But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

Ephesians 1:18 (NLT)
I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.