30th June 2025

Having to deal with cataracts has made me think about darkness and light. We do not see well in the dark naturally, but the bright light has now become uncomfortable for me. This makes driving at night a thing I have given up for now. Though the lights of an approaching car at night can be overpowering, the darkness resumes its place quickly enough as the car drives away. Darkness, though, runs and hides when the sun is in the sky. It cannot, as the verse here says, extinguish it or overpower it. We need the right light to see.

You must first ask who or what this light is. John 8:12 and John 1:1-9 explain who this light is – It is the Word, Jesus, it is God himself. This Word who is God, this light is life (John 1:1). John 1:4 (NIV) tells us: ‘In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.’ It is an interesting thought that light can be living, and we receive this life from Jesus.

Darkness is an absence of light, and absence of the Word (Jesus), is an absence of his life-giving light. We associate the darkness with sin, with Satan. Psalm 18:28 reminds us: ‘You, Lord, keep my lamp burning;  my God turns my darkness into light.’ Jesus removes our darkness, our sin with the light of his truth, with his life he cleanses us from the darkness of our sin. It is comforting to know that darkness has no power over Jesus; and as we belong to him, we are safe in his hands. Satan runs and hides from the light of Jesus, as darkness flees from the sun.

As Jesus entered the world he dealt with our fallen ways, our darkness, he as well dealt with the darkness of Satan (John 3:19-21). We may be in the darkness of sin, but we do not have to stay there, Jesus has come into the world to save those whom he loves dearly. Satan has no power over us; we do not have to remain under his sway.

With each dawn we are reminded of the power God has over darkness. We are reminded over and over again each day of his faithfulness to us. As the light gives us the ability to see clearly, so Jesus opens our eyes with his light of truth. He exposes the darkness for what it is, and he washes away our sin with his cleansing word, and with his life. Come to the light of Jesus and see what he has done. Come to the one who loves you and forgives you of all your sin. As Jesus says, ‘I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.’ (John 12:46).

Local congregation:
You are welcome to attend one of our local church congregations located throughout the UK and Ireland. For details of your nearest local congregation check on our website, Grace Communion International | Grace Communion International under the ‘Churches’ tab, or ring +44 (0)1858 437099.

Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church