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Have you watched the news lately? Have you surfed the Internet and noticed the shape our world is in? There is no question the world we live in seems to be growing darker. The news seems to be filled with events and behaviors the Bible says will occur in the last days. II Timothy 3:-1-5 says, "But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God." This sounds like darkness to me!
We live in a day when wrong is called right and right is called wrong. Isaiah 5:20 says, "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness." So what is the answer? Do we just accept the darkness? Those of us who know Jesus must stand up for what we believe is right in every area of life. There will be those who will not agree with us and will criticize us, but we must stand up for truth. We must be lights in a very dark world.
Isaiah 60:1-3 says, "Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples; But the Lord will rise upon you and His glory will appear upon you." If a room is very dark, and you light a candle, that one candle can bring much light. Have you ever noticed that if someone lights a candle, or turns on a flashlight, you are automatically drawn to the light? Some children go through phases where they are afraid of the dark, so just a small night light or a cracked door that brings in some light can comfort that child.
The Apostle Paul in Philippians 3:15-16 said we are to be "children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life." He recognized that we live in a dark time filled with perverseness, but he said we would be lights as we hold fast to the truth of the word of God.
Jesus said, "While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world." He recognized that as long as He was here on the earth, He would be able to bring the light to those sitting in darkness. But He also knew the day was coming when He would be leaving and the disciples would then be the light. In Matthew 5:14 Jesus said, "You are the light of the world." He goes on to say in verse six, "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."
As we go about our day and interact with people, we need to stay consciously aware of the fact that for those who don't know Jesus, they are literally darkness. They do not have the light of God. We can, through our words, lifestyle, love, and light, show them the way to the greater Light - Jesus. Let's not hide our light. Remember that song many of us sang as a child, "This little light of mine - I'm gonna let it shine?" Even though we may not feel like our little light can make a big difference, it can! The deeper the darkness, the more even a small light can bring light enough for others to follow us out of the darkness.