Have you noticed how dark the world is becoming? I don’t mean physically, but spiritually and emotionally. If you’re under thirty, maybe you haven’t seen much change, but for those of us who have been around for a while, a lot has changed since we were kids. If you’re a follower of Jesus, then you’ve probably felt the darkness growing. You see it on TV, hear it on the news, experience it in the lives of those around you. There is a pervading sense of fear and despair in our world today. This isn’t caused by war or crime or immorality, although those are symptoms. This is caused by the powers of darkness and evil and by the leader of those powers, Satan.
In fact, if you look up all the references of darkness in the New Testament, you’ll see that darkness and Satan’s kingdom are synonymous. Hell is also referred to as a place of great darkness.
Darkness is where God called us from before we knew Him.
For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves (Colossians 1:13NIV).
But now we walk in the light. What is the light? The light is Jesus Himself. He is the light and the light giver.
The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world (John 1:9 NIV).
If you’re a follower of Jesus, you are now a light, and from the looks of this world, you are a light shining in a very dark place—a much-needed light. Yet, it is possible to lose your light? Yes, it is. You may not do it purposely by some conscious sin or by turning your back on God. It’s possible to lose your light by doing nothing at all. Yes, nothing at all.
Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going (John 12:35 NLT).
This verse gives a command and a warning. You must follow the command, or the consequence in the warning will happen to you. In other words: If you aren’t sailing forward in your walk with God, then you’ll probably end up back in the darkness. Being a follower of Jesus isn’t a onetime decision on Sunday and then you do nothing. If you aren’t sailing forward, if you’ve lowered your sails and you’re idling in calm waters, look behind you . . . the darkness is coming! And it will catch you.
So, how do we avoid this? Jesus tells us in the very same chapter:
Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me (John 12:25–26 NLT).
Stop loitering, hoist those sails and face the wind. You’ll see Jesus ahead of you, His arms spread wide, waiting for you to catch up to Him. Follow Him and keep following Him, and the darkness will never catch you!
MaryLu Tyndall