Martha Olawale

Again, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life. John 8:12

It’s not fun to have electricity shut off without an alternative to power your home, cook your food or see in the night. Growing up in Africa, I experienced many blackouts. I’ve even had a few in the US, especially when we lived in hurricane-prone Florida. No matter how often you go through it, it’s never pleasant.

I was listening to Pastor David Jeremiah talk about darkness and he said darkness cannot be defined without light because the meaning of darkness is simply “The absence of light.” That is profound! It means darkness can’t exist in the presence of light. It can’t be defined without it and it won’t even try to show up where light lives. The power of light cancels out the menace and confusion that darkness brings. John 1:5 states, “…and the Light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not.”

Darkness cowers at the presence of light because the darkness has no power until the light is turned off. To abide in Christ is to live in constant light and when you live in the light, you won’t have to worry about darkness because it dares not show up where light rules. It is a red-lettered promise by Jesus that whoever follows Him will not walk in darkness because He is the light of the world. Unlike the light switch in our homes that can succumb to power outages, the light that comes from walking with God never goes out because it never bows to any worldly element.

Without the light of Heaven shining through God’s children, the world would be consumed by darkness. Speaking to the Jews in the book of Acts 13:47, Paul and Barnabas said, “For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.” Despite the resistance and opposition, they experienced, Paul and Barnabas lived in the reality of who they were as lights that reflects whom they serve—Christ. Like them, we are the light of the world and if our light stays on, darkness will flee, and the gates of hell will not prevail over us. Although He made sure to remind us to be aware of lurking darkness, Christ compels us to live in the light.

Keep your light on and put darkness out of business in your life. Let heaven be your standard and the kingdom your goal. Watch, pray, and live in the fullness of God’s grace.