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10/06/04
"I have come into the world as a light, so that
no one who believes in me should stay in darkness" John 12:46 (NIV).
"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people
belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of
darkness into his wonderful light" 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)
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Can you see in the dark? I can! Sort of. This was especially true when I was a
little boy. From time to time I got to sleep in the same room with my big
sister. This was a real treat for me because I loved my Sis, and I was terrified
of the dark. I usually slept in a room that was at the opposite end of the house
from everyone else. It was spooky.
Even when I slept in the room with my Sis, I was still sure there were monsters
in the dark. My Sis would try to convince me otherwise. She'd turn on the light
and tell me to look all around the room. Did I see any monsters? No. "There's
nothing in the dark that you can't see when the light is on," she'd explain. I
was convinced otherwise since I could see stuff -- all of which were products of
my imagination. I still get spooked easily in the dark.
Can you trust God in the dark? You know, the darkness of doubt, failure, pain,
loss, confusion, accusation, want, or any of a thousand emotions, situations,
and experiences that eclipse the joy of the Lord? When you, like David, are in a
cave of despondency; like Joseph, you are in a pit of despair; like Job, are in
an ash heap of questioning and desolation.
Many years ago I was told by someone who was quoting someone else, "Never doubt
in the dark what God has told you in the light." In Colossians 1:13, Paul tells
us bluntly, "For he [Christ] has rescued us from the dominion of darkness...."
When all we see are the dark clouds with no silver linings, and when we feel
soul-soaked in despair, the bright evergreen truth is that God can be trusted,
that His truth stands no matter what. As James states, "Every good and perfect
gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does
not change like shifting shadows" James 1:17 (NIV).
-- Stephen R. Clark
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Stephen (Stephen@StephenRClark.com) resides in Fishers, Indiana and operates
FishersWorship.com and FishersFind.com. He is a professional writer and
communications consultant.
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