Called Out Of Darkness
Into His Marvelous Light
Have you ever considered what it would be like to be completely blind? Can you imagine living in total darkness? It is unfortunate that many in our world are afflicted with this impairment. They have never seen the beautiful sunrise and sunset. They have never witnessed the colors of God's creation: the bright red cardinal, green meadows, deep blue skies, bright yellow sunshine, rainbows, autumn leaves, etc. They have never beheld the rolling hills and majestic mountains that adorn God's splendid creation. They have never shared in the warmth of a human smile, an expressive gleam in one's eye or the beauty of a wedding bride. How blessed we are to have our sight! Our gratitude should be expressed to God daily!
On at least five specific occasions in the New Testament, our Lord Jesus healed the physically blind and called them out of a world of darkness into a marvelous world of light (Matthew 9:27-31, 12:22, 20:29-34, Mark 8:22f, John 9:1-41). Can you imagine being in a state of total darkness and suddenly having your eyes opened to a flood of light? What immense joy those whom Jesus healed must have felt! We pray that all who are bound in a world of darkness might someday be loosed from this bondage to enjoy the world of light. Physical blindness is indeed a tragedy.
Although difficult to imagine, the Bible speaks of a type of blindness far more tragic than physical blindness. It is spiritual blindness. Paul said that Satan had blinded the minds of the lost so that the glorious light of the gospel would not shine through into them (2 Corinthians 4:4). Peter said that Christians who lacked the "Christian graces" were blind (2 Peter 1:9). John said that he who hates his brother is in darkness that hath blinded his eyes (1 John 2:11). God's word often depicts those in spiritual darkness as stumbling and groping for direction (Proverbs 4:19; Jeremiah 23:12; Isaiah 59:10; John 11:10, 12:35f). At one time or another all of us have been spiritually blinded and living in darkness. Those who are in darkness need a source of light. The Scriptures reveal at least three sources of light available to us in this dark world.
1. GOD IS LIGHT - Several scriptures attest to this fact. David said, "For thou art my lamp, O Lord: and the Lord will lighten my darkness" (2 Samuel 22:29). David restated this idea in several of his psalms (Psalm 18:28, 27:1, 36:9, 118:27). The beloved disciple of the Lord Jesus stated the idea quite clearly when he wrote, "God is light and in him is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5b). The Greek language in this passage is quite dogmatic. John uses two negatives to signify that not even one tiny particle, not one speck or spot of darkness can be found in the pure light which flows from the character of God. The sum total of God's divine character is seen in the word "light." Christians have been called out of darkness to walk in his marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). Once we come into fellowship with God we can no longer walk in darkness (1 John 1:6). To maintain our fellowship with God we must continue to walk in the light (1 John 1:71).
2. JESUS IS LIGHT - The same John who wrote that God the Father is light, affirmed the same thing about God the Son. In the first chapter of his gospel he noted that John the Baptizer bore witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe (John 1:5-9). Later in this same book, Jesus proclaimed that he is the Light of whom John wrote. "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" (John 8:12). A short time later he stated, "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world" (John 5:9). Jesus came into this world to provide a source of light to those who were groping in spiritual darkness. Those who would accept the Light and follow it's guidance would be delivered out of darkness into the kingdom of light (Colossians 1:13; 1 Peter 2:9).
3. THE WORDS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ARE LIGHT - "The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes" (Psalm 19:86b). "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path... The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding to the simple" (Psalm 119:105, 130). "For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life." (Proverbs 6:23). These passages plainly show that the words of the Holy Spirit, recorded infallibly by holy men of God, provide guidance and light to the sinner lost in darkness and to the child of God wishing to maintain fellowship with God. This is precisely why Satan, the god of this world, works so hard to blind the minds of unbelievers. Paul said that Satan blinds minds "lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them" (2 Corinthians 4:4). Satan is well aware of the power that resides within the words of the Bible. He understands that the words of the Holy Spirit give off more than enough light to dispel the gloomy darkness of his domain. He knows that the words of the Spirit light the pathway to an eternal home with God in heaven. His mission is to keep people in darkness and thus, eternally lost. However, that mission has been thwarted by the providence of the three sources of light we have already discussed. God, Christ, and the Spirit's Words have made it possible for all to be called out of darkness into marvelous light.
B. J. Clarke (Via Power)