There is a book about a little bear who is afraid of the dark.* Little Bear tells his Dad, Big Bear, “The darkness is all around us.” Each time his dad comes back to reassure him he brings a bigger lantern, until there is no darkness left in the room. But still Little Bear is afraid. So Big Bear takes him outside and shows him the moon and stars. Little Bear falls asleep safe and secure in Big Bear’s arms.
So often it seems that darkness is ‘all around us,’ all consuming, smothering, even overwhelming. It is easy to sink into the darkness, focus on the darkness or hide in the darkness. But we do not have to be captive to the darkness (Isaiah 61:1-3). Jesus came into the world as light, so that no one who believes in him should stay in darkness (John 12:46).
When the light shines in the darkness, the darkness will never overcome it (John 1.4-5).
When darkness covered the face of the earth (Genesis 1:1-3), God said “Let there be light”, and that was the end of the darkness.
When darkness crept into the garden, deceiving Eve, God did not give us over to the darkness, instead setting in motion a great plan to bring an end to the ‘darkness all around us’.
When only one light shone in the darkness in Noah, God rid the world of darkness and placed a bright rainbow in the sky as a promise.
When the darkness turned in circles, cycling through one light-bearer after another in the Old Testament, God still did not give up.
When the darkness tried to snuff out the light, because of the Lord’s great love, the light was not consumed (Lamentations 3.22).
When Jesus he said: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (Matthew 5:14)
When the darkness tried to extinguish the Light of the world, God raised him from the dead God set him free from the pain of death. The darkness could not hold him.
The darkness has no power.
One day there will be no more darkness. “Night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever” (Revelation 22.5)
Remember, We are wrapped in the safe embrace of our Father, the one who brings us the moon and stars, the one is the light of the world.
Light of the world, You stepped down into darkness
Here I am to Worship by Tim Hughes – Listen HERE on YouTube
Opened my eyes, let me see
Beauty that made this heart adore You
Hope of a life spent with You
Tabitha
*Can’t you sleep, Little Bear? by Mark Waddell. Listen/read HERE on YouTube
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
the oil of joy instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
Isaiah 61: 1-3 (NIV)
I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
John 12: 46 (NIV)
In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:4-5 (NIV)
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.
Genesis 1: 1-3 (NIV)
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
Lamentations 3:22 (NIV)
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.
Matthew 5: 14 (NIV)
There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
Revelation 22: 5 (NIV)
